The Clean House at Athenaeum Theatre

Centerstage - Recommended

"...With all the fantastical turns that a play like this takes, it could be very tempting to over-direct it. Happily, director Emmi Hilger keeps this production very simple, allowing the charms of the cast and, most importantly, Ruhl’s script to transport the audience. The stark white set, by Tianyu Qiu, creates a sense of fragility, of a world so brittle that it could easily splinter and break, as Lane’s perfectly kempt life does over the course of the play, for the better. A few of the transitions between scenes were somewhat awkward and distracting, but these moments were few and far between. For the most part, this production keeps “The Clean House’s” distinctive magic firmly intact."