Reviews
IN THE NEXT ROOM: OR THE VIBRATORY PLAY - Sarah Ruhl
The cherry atop this sundae: CA. Her Mrs. Givings is madcap impulsiveness bound in a corset, a modern woman trapped in history. With a tendency to speak her thoughts before she's fully thought them through, she seems more in touch with herself - no pun intended- than any other character in the play.
- Geoff Kirsch for the Capital City Weekly/Juneau Empire
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET – Stephen Sondheim & Hugh Wheeler
…and CA as the Beggar Woman, whose refrain, “city on fire,” still haunts me nearly a week after opening night.
– Geoff Kirsch for the Capital City Weekly/Juneau Empire
Bright moments of 2013 – THE K OF D
–Kristin Garot & Hadassah Nelson, contributor & staff, Juneau Empire
OKLAHOMA!– Rogers & Hammerstein
If you happen to be in Juneau…, I heartily recommend the Perseverance Theatre’s production of Oklahoma! This is not a sentence I ever imagined I would write, but it’s true.
...the boffo Juneau, Alaska, production of Oklahoma!
–James Fallows for The Atlantic
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST– Oscar Wilde
… with very strong performances are Daniel Harray as Jack and CA as Gwendolen. Their seemingly two-minute-long-blowing-kisses goodbye moment is hilarious.
-Juneau Empire
HANSEL & GRETEL – a folk musical based on Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera
CA’s performance as the Sandman was the best of the evening, highlighted by a solo that was haunting, lyrical and divine.
-Juneau Empire
THE THREE MUSKETEERS – Alexandre Dumas
There are other love affairs that drive the plot forward: D’Artagnan is enamored of the queen’s chambermaid and confidante, a plucky wench played with flair by CA.
-Juneau Empire
AN IDEAL HUSBAND – Oscar Wilde
Among the ensemble, only CA manages a meaty performance. As Lady Chiltern, Robert’s nobly suffering wife, she gives her fear of public shame the mix of selfishness and spousal concern the writing demands.
-Variety
THE DYBBUK or BETWEEN TWO WORLDS – S. Ansky
In a powerful second act, CA soars as Leah, the hapless bride whose body has been invaded by the soul of her lost love…their work comes together (quite literally) in the exorcism scene as two bodies incorporated into one. The scene is powerfully rendered, visually and orally, as they blend their voices.
-The Post-Standard
The excellent players as the lovers – CA as the vulnerable but determined Leah and the dark, defiant Tommy Schrider as Khonen…
-The Syracuse New Times
MIDWIVES – Chris Bohjalian
Both Ms. Gould and CA (Connie Danforth) play their characters heart-achingly well. Audience members can almost feel their every emotion, from the confusion they experience to the understanding they ultimately reach. The mother-daughter relationship is very believable, and it is easy to feel the bond between these two women.
-The Daily Beacon (Knoxville, TN)
THE SEAGULL – Anton Chekhov
…the snuff-snorting, booze-swilling Masha (the dark, mysteriously beautiful CA in the strongest, subtlest performance of the evening.)
-Cleveland Overnight
Only two cast members stand out in this play, and only one of them consistently. CA gives a dead-on performance as the snuff-inhaling Masha. Only in Masha can the audience see the underlying comic absurdity that all the characters possess glow brightly enough to recognize.
-Cleveland Plain Dealer
Despite direction that pushes her towards caricature, CA is a revelation as Masha. It’s a boldly drawn, but thoroughly affecting and warmly humorous portrait of an adolescent edging reluctantly into disappointing adulthood.
-Sun Newspapers
A SMALL FAMILY BUSINESS – Alan Ayckbourn
CA wholly inhabits Sammy’s snarling adolescent wrath. She finds all the notes in her character’s range (and rage) and plays them as masterfully as Sammy plays her family.
-Cleveland Plain Dealer
Mr. Chadwick and CA, as the scowling and rebellious Samantha, succeed in conveying the inarticulate alienation between father and daughter.
-Cleveland Jewish News
THE HERBAL BED – Peter Whelan
CA’s Hester provides the only real surprise of the show.
-The Indianapolis Star
We see consequences, but we don’t see enough motivation, except regarding Jack and Hester, the servant (CA), who are both secondary, yet vibrant, characters and bring necessary humor and depth to this brooding play.
-NUVO Newsweekly
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM – William Shakespeare
CA who plays Hermia, a young woman whose father seeks to force her into marriage with a man she doesn’t love, brings a superior mix of rebellion and assertiveness into the role that seems a mirror image of the fairy queen Titania.
-Pittsburgh City Paper
At least the four foolish lovers play as though something important were at stake, and as a result their comedy is fresh and pleasing. Hermia and Lysander are especially fine – CA proves the very opposite of her name,…
-Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
THE PRINCE & THE PAUPER – adapted from the novel by Mark Twain
In one scene, he rescues a young woman from being burned at the stake as a witch by offering to spare her if she will perform some of the black magic she is clearly ignorant of. CA, who also plays Lady Jane Grey, is quite affecting in the part.
“Family Fare”-The New York Times
THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK – Francis Goodrich & Albert Hackett
As Anne, CA gives a startlingly real portrayal of a 13-year-old. She is brash, selfish, cruel – not a sentimentalized young victim. Anne gropes for her own set of standards and maintains an indomitable hope for the future. Apathy gives that hope a radiant, ebullient reading.
-The Ithaca Journal
CA creates a lovely, wide-eyed Anne – willful, high-spirited, intelligent, longing. Sensitive but unsentimental…
-Ithaca Times
A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE – Arthur Miller
CA is once again, outstanding. With her brown eyes opening upon her acting partner (whoever that may be at the moment), she is, by turns, affectionate, passionate, yearning. She’s a fresh and emotive actress. Her scene at the kitchen table, early on, with her Aunt Beatrice, is priceless. The women join hands across the table, creating an unspoken intimacy, which is personal and revealing.
-Union News (Springfield, MA)
YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN – Clark Gesner
Opposite her, and a fine, performing counterpart, is CA. As Lucy, she’s versatile, physical in style, girlish in manner. She pouts and shouts, imploring one and all to notice Lucy Van Pelt. Cariani and Apathy, non-Equity actors, provide highlights during the two-hour show.
-Union News
