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Regional Reviews: San Francisco A Dazzling Production of Aaron Loeb's Ideation Also see Richard's review of Jai Rodriguez at Society Cabaret
Aaron Loeb has sharpened the play's moral difficulties by fine-tuning the dialogue for the five main characters. This is a far better production and worthy of a New York premiere. The Playhouse has not only obtained the original director, Josh Costello, but the brilliant original cast as well. Ideation is about a team of company consultants working on a sinister and morally ambiguous project for a foreign government. The group of desperate strategists is trying to salvage a forthcoming video-conference presentation to the CEO in an hour's time. They throw themselves into the task of outlining universal solutions for the huge, very secret Project Senna. The audience sees a sterile, anonymous board room centered on a whiteboard, thanks to a striking, detailed, curved mega set with immense conference table by Bill English. The consultants eagerly draw logical equations and graphs on the whiteboard. By keeping the audience as mystified and in the dark as the characters, playwright and director has everyone on their toes, anticipating the impetus of various relationships, the decisive agenda at hand, and the believability of each piece of information exposed. Carrie Paff gives a glowing performance as the control project manager Hannah. She is superb as the person who is starting to wonder about the moral doubt of the project. Mark Anderson Phillips is outstanding as the egotistical, quick-thinking Brock. Loeb's words, combined with expert delivery and timing, are mind blowing in Phillips' verbose performance. Michael Ray Wisely is perfect in the role of the old and more centered Ted. He makes the most of his humorous lines and witty cutting remarks. Jason Kapoor is exceptional in the role of perplexed, observant engineer Sandeep who starts charting the project's social implications. Rounding out this vivid cast is Ben Euphrat in a relatively small role. However, he gives an impressive performance as the obnoxious personal assistant to Hannah. Costumes by Abra Berman, especially the outfits worn by Carrie Paff and the finely tailored suits of the three men, are perfect, as is the bright lighting of the set by Mark Hueske. Ideation runs through November 8th, 2014, at the San Francisco Playhouse, 450 Post Street, San Francisco. For tickets please call 415-677-9596 or visit www.sfplayhouse.org. Coming up next will be the Burt Bacharach, Hal David and Neil Simon's musical Promises, Promises opening November 11 and running through January 10, 2015.
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