Stage

On canvas River would have been a cluttered modern painting, with trinkets glued on in piles. It wasn't smooth and stirring drama, but it told a coherent story; and when Dodge got away from a faux-earnest voice her performance as Jimmy was intimate, involving, and sly. "Muddy Little River, that's me," Jimmy said. "Can't see shit, can't see the bottom, all I can do is keep on keepin' on." Even if the play sometimes felt self-consciously muddy, Dodge put in the time and intelligence to keep things swift-moving and fun.

-- Michael Scott Moore