Circus Quixote – Lookingglass Theatre – February 26, 2025

My hope that the reopening of Lookingglass Theatre, featuring the world premiere of Circus Quixote, would lead me on a quest to see more of their productions, turned out to be an impossible dream.

Upon entering the building, the first thing that struck me was the spare feeling of the “vibrant new lobby,” as described by the architects.

If not for the juggling instruction going on in one corner, I might have thought that I had wandered into the wrong place.

The play itself wasn’t quite as monstrous a show as the theater’s production of Frankenstein in 2019, but I was ready to leave within the first 30 seconds, thereafter gritting my teeth and performing mental gymnastics to help me endure until intermission.

There were some laughs (not as many for me as for a few others in the sparse crowd – relatives of the cast?), though I feel like much of the humor must have been lost to me in translation. I did understand the sophomoric use of belching, but wasn’t particularly amused. If you’re going that route, go bigger.

Some of the choreographed scenes were lame, though not so the horse fantasized from a rocking chair.

The interactions with the audience struck me as inappropriate and somewhat desperate, as, all in all, I felt like I was watching a long-form improv show that was playing off of a suggestion to incorporate windmills into a scene.

Lucy and Charlie’s Honeymoon – Lookingglass Theatre Company – June 13, 2023

This is the second musical I’ve seen with Honeymoon in the title. But this one doesn’t have any flying Elvises. The program describes it as – “First Generation Asian American Renegades. In Love. And on the Run.” Kind of like a modern day Bonnie and Clyde, except not at all.

There’s a lot to like about this production, including the country western music, the humor, the cultural awareness and the serious issues raised, but it seemed to try too hard at times.

The first act made me want to find out how things would play out. The second act made me yearn for the first act. (I would same the same about a lot of other plays.) It was like watching someone using an incorrect thread type to stitch the parts together and winding up with a puckered seam. Still functional, looks okay from a distance and can be fixed, but wouldn’t wear it to the prom as is.

Because it’s a world premiere, I’ll restrain myself from revealing spoilers, but I will say – enjoy the Karaoke scene, try to take in as much of the set as you can and don’t spend a lot of time worrying about Benny.