KAREN ROBINSON

        Department of Theatre & Performance Studies

Kennesaw State University, 2010

 

"It was obvious at the outset that the preparation and direction of this play was responsible for a very special and magical experience for all involved. In the talkback it was revealed that the director had earned the trust and loyalty of the entire company by providing a working method and environment that encouraged individual artistry, risk-taking, and incredible ensemble feeling among the participants. The director's approach, as I would define it, was to create a production that is often referred to as 'poetic realism.' It was a production that deftly balanced the concrete from the abstract, and that, as I believe Wilson intended, was Troy's story. [...] The director crafted a professional level production by devoting attention to the physicalizations of the actors, their vocal  orchestration (which resembled an accomplished jazz improvisation (VERY appropriate), their remarkable focus on stage (listening and concentration skills), the depth of the subtext that each actor achieved, the clarity of their objectives, and the very palpable developmental arc and growth experienced by the characters. It must have been a joy to work with Karen."

--Dr. John Countryman

Professor of Theatre, Berry College