Review Roundup: HURRICANE DIANE at The Old Globe - What Did the Critics Think?

The Old Globe presents the west coast premiere of Hurricane Diane by Madeleine George, directed by James Vásquez.

This unconventional new comedy from Pulitzer Prize finalist Madeleine George sees the Greek god Dionysus return to the modern world disguised as the butch gardener Diane, whose secret mission is to seduce mortal followers and restore the earth to its natural state. Where better to begin than with four real housewives from New Jersey? The New York Times cheered Hurricane Diane as an "astonishing new play," and New York Magazine hailed it as "hilarious and full of keen observation and profound human affection."

The show runs from February 8 - March 8, 2020.

Let's see what the critics are saying...

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James Hebert, San Diego Union-Tribune: Costumer Shirley Pierson deftly designs character-defining looks for each; Jo Winiarski's kitchen set is sleek and appealing (with surprises to come), and Cat Tate Starmer's lighting and Drew Levy's sound pair smartly as the storm approaches. The original music by the band Golden Howl - with a vibe that's slightly like the Stones as fronted by Tori Amos - figures deeply into the show's big climax. Its lyrics are like a lament for a bacchanal gone bad; the love fest has become a protest, and it's not clear that anyone gets the last laugh.

Welton Jones, San Diego Story: In a stroke of fabulous casting, the Globe has hired Rami Margron, a sturdy, handsome actor with flashing eyes and tons of self-confident presence to play a role where sensuality counts, not specific gender. I have no idea of Margron's personal preferences, nor is that any of my business. As an artist, though, they/she/he is thoroughly convincing to me/me/me. The air should crackle when Dionysus is present, and that it does. This is what we mean by the label "romantic lead."

Pat Launer, Times of San Diego: The set (Jo Winiarski) is a glossy kitchen with a huge central island, one in a cluster of identical floorplans. The sound (Drew Levy), lighting (Cat Tate Starmer) and costumes (Shirley Pierson) enhance the proceedings. Still, this is far from a bold play choice, or an effective one, in tackling a timely, and potentially terrifying, topic.

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