Martin Jones Westlin – Page 27

Cygnet’s fair ‘Maple and Vine’ stumbles over itself

By Martin Jones Westlin | January 28, 2014 |

Technology has made the 1950s seem like centuries ago, and a lot more may (or may not) have happened to human interconnectedness in the meantime. Cygnet Theatre’s “Maple and Vine” takes a look at the simpler era and the very personal reasons behind the characters’ fascination with it — but amid the nice production values and fine acting, the script fuels a debate in which the playwright doesn’t want to take part.

The monarch never arrives, but SD Rep’s ‘Butterflies’ is commendable

By Martin Jones Westlin | January 13, 2014 |

San Diego Repertory Theatre is giving “In the Time of the Butterflies,” the story of four sisters’ valiant fight against Dominican Republic strongman Rafael Trujillo’s bloody regime, its English-language world premiere through Jan. 26. Curiously, the entry is missing a lot about its flesh-and-blood antagonist — but a highly developed culture of ensemble carries the performances in this commendable piece about a brutal reign the West can’t afford to forget.