ROUGH MAGIC

by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

“IF YOU SEE ONLY ONE PLAY during the six-month-long Shakespeare In Washington Festival SEE ROUGH MAGIC… the play itself prooves an inspired choice for an impoverished but balls- to-the-wall theater company.” – The City Paper
When a vengeful fictional character steps out of the pages of Shakespeare and into modern Manhattan threatening death and destruction, who in the world can save the day? A dramaturg. The play works best when it makes knowing fun of this goofiness, and so does Jenny McConnell Frederick’s low-budget production. The smoothest element of “Rough Magic” is Tracy Lynn Olivera, whose deadpan style as Melanie perfectly suits the dry, bookish single gal caught up in a supernatural whirlwind. – Washington