Theater Review: The People of Pompeii<\/h6>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/giaonthemove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/The-People-of-Pompeii_0041.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\")
Aaron Hendry, Willow Geer, Lauren Saffa in Bernardo Cubria\u2019s, The People of Pompeii<\/em><\/strong>.
Photo by Ian Flander.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBernardo Cubria <\/a>has done what he does best in, The People of Pompeii<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. In riffing on the comedic myopia of Topanga culture, he also pulls a contemplative lens out for a wide view on current politics in America. Cubria stirs local-inspired Enchanted Crystal Cauldron-lifestyle on the Theatricum Botanicum stage in front an audience who knows full-well the meaning of all the nods. And are probably living them.\u00a0 Which may be why this play has garnered massive appeal thus far. Masquerading as light fare, Cubria actually puts an exclamation point to highly charged, identity politics, but also leaves room for the healing we desperately need right now. Recommended. \u201cGuardate! Il vulcano!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nTheater Review: Art of Heartbreak<\/h6>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/giaonthemove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Fallen-Saints-The-Art-of-Heartbreak.png?resize=1020%2C534&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\nAt it again is Force of Nature with a new, pre-Halloween, horror-inspired production. The price you pay for denying your dreams, according to playwright Matt Ritchey is the Art of Heartbreak<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. The company has taken Ritchey\u2019s original script and created a 70s style \u201cNight Gallery\u201d, Monster Mash-up, detective-y, Fallen Saints, love story that sometimes defies logic (and direction). But in the end, gives \u201cgood (horrifying) terminus\u201d. \u201cChoose your words wisely.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nTheater Review: Pericles<\/h6>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/giaonthemove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AdamJSmith_JoelSwetow_NicoleJavier_JulanneChidiHill_JaimeGallo_RandolphThompson_RioRasch_photocredit_BrianHashimoto.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1\")
Adam J. Smith, Joel Swetow, Nicole Javier, Julanne Chidi Hill, Jaime Gallo, Randolph Thompso, and Rio Rasch.
Photo credit: Brian Hashimoto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nInventive is the word of the day. Boston Court has triumphantly re-imagined one of (allegedly) Shakespeare\u2019s clumsiest and convoluted (let alone not so Bard-sounding) works into a meta masterpiece. Placing Pericles<\/strong><\/em> in a school gymnasium, emergency shelter during a hurricane, and having the evacuees step into roles spontaneously to drive all the action isn\u2019t mere sparkle. It is a theatrical breath of fresh air for this, almost-never-performed, hot mess. Beautifully directed by Margaret Shigeko Starbuck<\/a>, the soap-opera-ish, tragicomical adventure is superbly led by crack actor, Joel Swetow<\/a>. Recommended. \u201cTime (really IS) the wisest counselor of all.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nTheater Review: Before It\u2019s Too Late<\/h6>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/giaonthemove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Before-Its-Too-Late.png?resize=1021%2C1024&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\nIt\u2019s never too late. Not really, as playwright\/performer Christopher Moncayo-Torres demonstrates in his profoundly intimate, two-hour, semi-one person show. Before It\u2019s Too Late<\/a><\/em><\/strong> takes storytelling, improv, an attempt at cooking, a live three-way WhatsApp call with his Ecuadorian family, and a translator, to help Moncayo-Torres bridge the divide between himself and his parents. A comedic, familial tale of excessive exploration, this world premiere, playing at Outside in Theatre, displays an unrestrained list of Moncayo-Torres\u2019 family issues and history, laying bare every detail and even some secrets that have, until now, left him with a life-long sense of internal displacement from both his parents. His quest is to finally heal all that. But this show is not without humor. Starting with Moncayo-Torres\u2019 dad being the most expensive \u201cprop\u201d in the production. Before It\u2019s Too Late<\/em><\/strong> is filled with raw, messy, spontaneous honesty by the playwright, his sisters and his parents who join him for the journey on stage and live on screen for a genuine \u201ccoming together\u201d. They reveal, so much more than anyone is prepared for in a single evening. But getting everyone in the same room\u2026like\u2026 the best Seco de Pollo ever! \u201cDo you love me?\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re a fool.\u201d \u2026 \u201cThen you love me?\u201d \u201cI suppose I do.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\u00a9 Copyright 2026 GiaOnTheMove.com. All Rights Reserved.<\/a><\/p>\nLead Press Photo by Brian Hashimoto: Julanne Chidi Hill. Desiree Mee Jung<\/a>. Adam J Smith<\/a>. Joel Swetow<\/a>. Rio Rasch. Nicole Javier. And, Alexander Matos in Pericles at Boston Court.<\/em><\/p>\n
Photo by Ian Flander.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Bernardo Cubria <\/a>has done what he does best in, The People of Pompeii<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. In riffing on the comedic myopia of Topanga culture, he also pulls a contemplative lens out for a wide view on current politics in America. Cubria stirs local-inspired Enchanted Crystal Cauldron-lifestyle on the Theatricum Botanicum stage in front an audience who knows full-well the meaning of all the nods. And are probably living them.\u00a0 Which may be why this play has garnered massive appeal thus far. Masquerading as light fare, Cubria actually puts an exclamation point to highly charged, identity politics, but also leaves room for the healing we desperately need right now. Recommended. \u201cGuardate! Il vulcano!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n At it again is Force of Nature with a new, pre-Halloween, horror-inspired production. The price you pay for denying your dreams, according to playwright Matt Ritchey is the Art of Heartbreak<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. The company has taken Ritchey\u2019s original script and created a 70s style \u201cNight Gallery\u201d, Monster Mash-up, detective-y, Fallen Saints, love story that sometimes defies logic (and direction). But in the end, gives \u201cgood (horrifying) terminus\u201d. \u201cChoose your words wisely.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Inventive is the word of the day. Boston Court has triumphantly re-imagined one of (allegedly) Shakespeare\u2019s clumsiest and convoluted (let alone not so Bard-sounding) works into a meta masterpiece. Placing Pericles<\/strong><\/em> in a school gymnasium, emergency shelter during a hurricane, and having the evacuees step into roles spontaneously to drive all the action isn\u2019t mere sparkle. It is a theatrical breath of fresh air for this, almost-never-performed, hot mess. Beautifully directed by Margaret Shigeko Starbuck<\/a>, the soap-opera-ish, tragicomical adventure is superbly led by crack actor, Joel Swetow<\/a>. Recommended. \u201cTime (really IS) the wisest counselor of all.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s never too late. Not really, as playwright\/performer Christopher Moncayo-Torres demonstrates in his profoundly intimate, two-hour, semi-one person show. Before It\u2019s Too Late<\/a><\/em><\/strong> takes storytelling, improv, an attempt at cooking, a live three-way WhatsApp call with his Ecuadorian family, and a translator, to help Moncayo-Torres bridge the divide between himself and his parents. A comedic, familial tale of excessive exploration, this world premiere, playing at Outside in Theatre, displays an unrestrained list of Moncayo-Torres\u2019 family issues and history, laying bare every detail and even some secrets that have, until now, left him with a life-long sense of internal displacement from both his parents. His quest is to finally heal all that. But this show is not without humor. Starting with Moncayo-Torres\u2019 dad being the most expensive \u201cprop\u201d in the production. Before It\u2019s Too Late<\/em><\/strong> is filled with raw, messy, spontaneous honesty by the playwright, his sisters and his parents who join him for the journey on stage and live on screen for a genuine \u201ccoming together\u201d. They reveal, so much more than anyone is prepared for in a single evening. But getting everyone in the same room\u2026like\u2026 the best Seco de Pollo ever! \u201cDo you love me?\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re a fool.\u201d \u2026 \u201cThen you love me?\u201d \u201cI suppose I do.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a9 Copyright 2026 GiaOnTheMove.com. All Rights Reserved.<\/a><\/p>\n Lead Press Photo by Brian Hashimoto: Julanne Chidi Hill. Desiree Mee Jung<\/a>. Adam J Smith<\/a>. Joel Swetow<\/a>. Rio Rasch. Nicole Javier. And, Alexander Matos in Pericles at Boston Court.<\/em><\/p>\nTheater Review: Art of Heartbreak<\/h6>\n
<\/figure>\nTheater Review: Pericles<\/h6>\n
Photo credit: Brian Hashimoto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nTheater Review: Before It\u2019s Too Late<\/h6>\n
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