Review of Metro Stage's Rough Crossing.

BOB ANTHONY Free-Lance Arts Critic on the Web and Foggy Bottom News : "The peaceful town of Alexandria will be rocking with laughter during the run of Stoppard's 'Rough Crossing' at the MetroStage. The play is an adaptation of a Molnar comedy turned into farce as Stoppard mixes up a group of theater folk and a cabin stewart on a hectically humorous ride across the ocean to New York. Nancy Robillard most competently manages to direct this piece to get belly laughs for the whole two acts and establishes this to be the funniest Stoppard show yet. Michael Russotto easily captivates with his zany interpretation of the leader of this thespian pack with a perfect articulation of the multisyllabic comic verbiage of this fine British playwright. Nicky McDonnell and Carl Randolph expertly give definition to the quarrelsome lead actors of the play within a play with some fine singing and dancing...and acerb...thrown in. Steven Tipton manages singing, acting and piano playing to prove a surprising young stage talent. Jack Vernon is probably the most underrated local stage actor as he again wows with a stage enthusiasm that is infectious. And, in typical script insult to theatrics, Stoppard manages to provide a know-it-all secondary character to define the script and the action. And, fine comedian Ian Gould comes close to stealing the show with his delightful interpretation of a bumbling servant on his maiden ocean voyage. His comedic charm has no bounds as he sways while the ship is in port and walks steadily when the ship is being tossed in transit plus other running gags. Jos.B. Musumeci,Jr. outshines his previous wonderful sets with this glorious outer and inner shell of a cruiser. Adam Magazine on lights and Matt Rowe on sound blend continually to double the pleasure and fun.

There is superb interplay of these characters throughout and Stoppard presents the cleanest script around that should make this show total family fun. So families and Stoppardites...put this one on your calendar immediately as it should be a big seller."