Jefferson Mays and Melinda Page Hamilton deliver performances in the Pasadena Playhouse production of “The Visit” that critics suggest are worth the visit, despite reservations about the play’s tone. The review, published by Variety, describes the 1950s absurdist comedy as being “too smug in its peak-bleak view of venal humanity.”
The assessment comes as the Pasadena Playhouse continues to host high-profile productions. The venue, located in the San Gabriel Valley, recently saw a “spectacular success” with a revival of “Amadeus” that opened in February. According to the review, the success of that production was so comprehensive that one might have preferred the theater’s management to hand over the keys to the two Tony winners most responsible for its quality.
While the source material highlights the strong performances by Mays and Hamilton in “The Visit,” it contrasts this with a critical view of the play’s thematic approach. The reviewer characterizes the work’s perspective on human nature as overly cynical and self-satisfied.
The Pasadena Playhouse is noted as a “venerable” venue, indicating its established reputation in the theater community. The recent run of “Amadeus” is cited as a benchmark for the kind of success that has been achieved at the theater, setting a high standard for subsequent productions like “The Visit.”
Despite the criticism regarding the play’s smugness, the review ultimately endorses the cast, specifically naming Mays and Hamilton as key draws for audiences attending the show.
<small>Source: Variety — read the original story there.</small>
