Blackbird
By David Harrower
Directed by Karla Hartley
Sep. 11 – 28, 2008
Thu. – Sat. 8pm, Sun. 4pm
Tickets: $24.50
Shimberg Playhouse, Straz Center for the Performing Arts
Patron Reviews
"As uncomfortable and excellent as The Goat, which was also directed by Karla Hartley, Blackbird also intimately investigates a different kind of love. It is creepy, and dirty and very wonderful.... One man, one woman, one room, throwing up accusations, hurts and regrets that have simmered for 15 years. Both actors, Paul Potenza and Caitlin Eason are excellent.... After the show ends you will be not only entertained by first rate acting, you will have your conceptions about relationships and what is appropriate challenged." – David Hood
"I strongly recommend people see this production. It is truly a compelling night of theater. Caitlin Eason and Paul Potenza share with the audience a thought provoking story with their stellar performances. Karla Hartley's direction has enforced her already solid reputation as being among the Tampa Bay area's finest directors. This show will be among the top 5 best productions of the Tampa Bay area's 2008–09 theater season." – Brian Shea
"We are recent season ticket holders, deciding to do this when we saw your A Dream Play production in June. Boy what a great play to start your season. Please tell the cast of this show how much we enjoyed their performances ... Kudos to all and we really look forward to all of your future productions. We will tell our friends too. What a great value for the money!" – John and Lori
"I heartly recommend people take the time to see Jobsite's production of Blackbird. It is a compelling night of theater that is told with the utmost commitment and stellar talent of Caitlin Eason and Paul Potenza. Karla Hartley's direction of this production is just another example of her intelligence and strength as a director. Bravo!" – Brian
"Just returned from seeing Blackbird. The acting was SO profound. TOTALLY impressed. Thanks again for a job well done." – Rachel Lisi
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In Print
Previews
Creative Loafing See & Do – Creative Loafing
A girl a little like Lolita grows up in Jobsite Theater's Blackbird – St. Petersburg Times
Blackbird Grabs Audience By Scruff of Neck – Tampa Tribune
Reviews
"... the superlative acting elevated the subject matter to a shameful level of enjoyment ... Eason and Potenza spun gold from the detritus of their characters' lives. Slogging through the muck of abuse, their performances were riveting." – The Tampa Tribune
"... tense, emotionally supercharged drama is excellently acted by Paul J. Potenza and Caitlin Eason, potently directed by Karla Hartley, perfectly situated by set designer Scott Cooper ... the performances are deeply impressive ... I can recommend Blackbird to anyone who appreciates the art of performance." – Creative Loafing
"Aside from the power of Harrower's naturalistic dialogue – at times obviously influenced by David Mamet – and the heartfelt depth of the two performances, what's most impressive about Blackbird is its moral ambiguity ... [it] offers its audience a host of uncomfortable questions, and ends intriguingly without answering any of them. So its power endures, and even grows, after you've left the theater and started to think about what you've seen and heard." – St. Petersburg Times
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