Nine Night at Round House Theatre

Nine Night

Round House Theatre
4545 East-West Highway Bethesda

The death of Gloria, the family matriarch, brings the family together for the traditional Jamaican Nine Night celebration. This multi-day event is full of food, revelry, and a constant stream of mourners. Natasha Gordon's debut play explores the tensions of living in two cultures, the unbreakable bonds of family, and the many layers of grief in an "exuberantly funny" (The Guardian) and relatable story of the ties that bind. Michael Billington of The Guardian praised the playwrighting debut, saying "Playwrighting debuts don't come much better than this."

Thru - Oct 9, 2022

Tuesdays: 7:30pm

Wednesdays: 7:30pm

Thursdays: 7:30pm

Fridays: 8:00pm

Saturdays: 2:00pm & 8:00pm

Sundays: 2:00pm

Price: $39-$74

Show Type: Drama

Box Office: 240-644-1100

www.roundhousetheatre.org/

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Nine Night Reviews

Average Rating based on 7 reviews

Highly Recommended
Recommended
Somewhat Recommended
Not Recommended

Washington Post - Highly Recommended

"...A central character named Lorraine suffers that painful indignity early on in Natasha Gordon's "Nine Night," now receiving its American premiere from Round House Theatre. The kitchen-mishap scene in some ways encapsulates the achievements of this play, a moving, insightful, sometimes funny depiction of grief and family tension, set before, and during, a festive multiday wake thrown by a British-Jamaican family."

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- Celia Wren

DC Theater Arts - Highly Recommended

"...British Playwright Natasha Gordon's Nine Night captures the grief and joy surrounding the Caribbean funeral tradition known as Nine Night. Round House Theatre's production explores this unique cultural excursion through the eyes of Lorraine, who presides over her mother's funeral with her Jamaican-British family in a journey that will leave the audience both emotionally drained and fascinated."

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- Malcolm Lewis Barnes

MetroWeekly - Recommended

"...What matters, ultimately, is what passes between Lorraine and Gloria. Director Timothy Douglas guides the play there at an agreeable pace, steering smoothly in and out of some sticky emotional moments to arrive at a satisfying conclusion earned by Oben’s touching performance onstage and the vividly imagined presence off-stage of the lady of the house."

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- Andre Hereford

Talkin Broadway - Recommended

"...Nine Night, Natasha Gordon's warm and heartfelt play receiving its United States premiere at Round House Theatre in Bethesda, Maryland, demonstrates how an in-depth look at a particular culture can also depict the similarities among people."

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- Susan Berlin

Washington City Paper - Recommended

"...While the script reveals one or two plot holes, Nine Night is a lovely, intimate play. Mackabee’s astonishingly detailed set design calls to mind a moment in Gordon’s script where the family reflects on the true value of their mother’s home. The house is not merely a residence, but a collection of memories and memorabilia. These remnants gain more and more significance as the play unfolds. Evocative lighting design by Harold F. Burgess II makes the play visually stunning. I found myself in many moments seeing the light as perhaps the characters would—the haze of an early morning, the dim glow of an heirloom lamp, even the light of an iPhone—mesmerizing but somehow foreign in the wake of grief."

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- Melissa Lin Sturges

MD Theatre Guide - Recommended

"..."Nine Night" brings perspectives and stories too rarely represented to our stages by exploring the Jamaican-British experience. Natasha Gordon broke barriers with this playwriting debut and established herself as a new writer to watch. A quality, technical design team and experienced cast deliver a solid production at Round House Theatre."

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- Charlotte Selton

BroadwayWorld - Highly Recommended

"...The play is meticulously produced and presented by Round House Theatre and it is the U.S. premiere of what was an acclaimed run in London's West End. Tautly directed by Timothy Douglas, the intimate cast of seven characters could almost be construed to be eight as the beloved matriarch Gloria is a constant hovering presence (and is visually portrayed by a huge, framed photo at the top of the set---as well as a smaller photo in the family home setting beneath----Intricate and impressive scenic design by Tim Mackabee)."

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- David Friscic

Nine Night at Round House Theatre

Nine Night

Nine Night Reviews

Washington Post - Highly Recommended

DC Theater Arts - Highly Recommended

MetroWeekly - Recommended

Talkin Broadway - Recommended

Washington City Paper - Recommended

MD Theatre Guide - Recommended

BroadwayWorld - Highly Recommended

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