PRESS
2006 | The Imaginary Invalid and The Mail Order Bride
A friendly duel now going on at the Beckett Theatre… the actresses in Invalid are strong… Virginia Baeta has a fine time as creaky old Argan… Amy Driesler and Samarra, both playing male roles, are especially funny, and Carey Urban as the maid Toinette complements Ms. Baeta's entertaining performance nicely...The real meat (of The Mail Order Bride) lies in the witty topical asides… Argan delivers a razor-sharp retort about what is for sale these days… Molière would certainly have approved of such a witty retort… — Neil Genzlinger, The New York Times
The Imaginary Invalid (is) as timely today as when it premiered in 1673… a gleefully madcap reimagining… Carey Urban's Toinette is a highlight...Mee artfully echoes the satirical tone and farcical machinations of the French master, masking deft observations about contemporary life with witty dialogue…. Eric Parness coaxes absurd, over-the-top humor from his talented ensemble. With his puttylike face and Steve Martin gestures, John Henry Cox is a memorable Argan… delightful… highly amusing… Mee has Molière's satirical tongue! — Nancy Ellen Shore, Backstage
Resonance Ensemble's mission to develop new plays inspired by classic plays is demonstrated in full with their rotating repertory productions… There are stand-out performances by Kari Nicole Washington as Angelique, and Samarra, who, in drag complete with goatee, makes a very sexy Cleante...The Mail Order Bride is a very entertaining and funny new play… Mee captures Molière's satirical voice remarkably well… the performances are very successful in bringing clear, interesting characters to life… John Henry Cox is terrific as Argan… Director Eric Parness nicely builds the play to its absurdly farcical final pages… Resonance Ensemble is doing a great job producing these kinds of shows in rep on a regular basis, and they deserve support. — Matt Schicker, NYTheatre.com
Outstanding performances allowed the brilliance of Mee's terrific new play to shine through… a delightfully non-traditional script that makes both satiric and sincere observations about marriage, race, love, self-determination, and aging… (McCain's) energetic and playful performance is one of several stand-outs. Kim brings just the right combination of passion, poise, curiosity, and sensuality… perfectly realized. — Dan Bacalzo, Theatermania
Resonance Ensemble has an interesting mission… (The Mail Order Bride), full of droll lists, broad slapstick and philosophical rumination, is a witty, self-conscious echo of Molière's farce. The script succeeds as a postmodern love letter to Invalid. — Jeff Lewonczyk, Time Out New York