A WRINKLE IN TIME, July 12, 2025, 2:00 PM, Arena Stage, Washington, D.C.
Reviewed by Paul Wickham Schmidt
Liked:
*Positive message of courage, hope, love, and perseverance
*Lively
*Energetic, athletic
*Creative
*Relevant
*Inspiring, moving
*Challenging, complex music & singing
*Teamwork in story mirrored by cast
*Colorful
*Lighting artistry
*Clever staging, use of “manholes” and revolving circles built into stage; action on multi-levels tying into multi-planets and abstract use of time
*Characters overcame each other’s flaws through love and teamwork
*The power of righteous anger in challenging the status quo
*Family appropriate
*Diversity in cast and audience
*Smart girl as gutsy leader focused on solving her existential problem and getting support and recognition from male family members and friend
*Humor
Room for Improvement:
- At 2:30 plus 15 minute intermission, perhaps too long for some kids with shorter attention spans and grandparents/senior citizens (like us) who “stiffen up” when sitting for lengthy periods
- Scene with “friendly monsters” at beginning of Act II too long, particularly with lull in movement and stage and house lights largely in dark
- Having adults play kids’ parts requires lots of suspension of belief; Charles Wallace was particularly hard to understand as the “younger brother” who came across to me mostly as some kind of “teenage weirdo”
- My own fault, but story was hard to follow for those who 1) hadn’t read the book (me), or 2) hadn’t read it recently (my wife, Cathy)
I wrote my bullet-point review before reading the “real reviews” which were “mixed,” as they say in the “review world.” Perhaps it was the nature of the “matinee/geezer” crowd that was near-capacity and generally surprisingly well-balanced among kids, parents, and grandparents; contrary to many of the internet comments I later reviewed, this audience appeared to enthusiastically enjoy the performance.
We certainly came out into the soupy DC evening feeling more revived and upbeat. That contrasts with listening to the constant stream of insanely disturbing news and maliciously inept nonsense from our so-called national government.
*********************
⚖️ Due Process Forever
PWS
07-14-25
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