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UConn STORRS - Connecticut Repertory Theatre opened the fall season with Jacklyn Backhaus’s MEN ON BOATS. Director Beth Gardiner returned from last spring to guide the talented cast through

what is billed as an “engaging, funny, and ironic ride” with John Wesley Powell and his crew, commissioned to explore the Colorado River in 1869. The story of an all-male expedition, MEN ON

BOATS, by direction of the playwright, has an all-female cast. Catastrophe and hilarity are promised to ensue; I can vouch for the catastrophes in the plot and there are definitely some

funny elements. I enjoyed what I felt was more of an adventure story than a comedy, especially being able to smile in the comfort of my own home, but I would stop short of the word

“hilarious.” For the record, I have never been disappointed with a CRT production, but I can’t say that I have ever enjoyed the long commute to UConn Storrs. As promised, the virtual

performances are complete with background set graphics and costuming. The director shared during the post show chat that the tech crew accomplished the look of the play by coupling the

existing Zoom web conferencing software with new technology, viewing frames, and by reimagining online delivery of live theatre. CRT’s aimed to rethink what it means to present live theatre

during the age of COVID-19 and for the most part, this goal was met. _“We’ll figure it out” has been the catch phrase of this project. I thought if we could find a way to present Men On

Boats clearly and vibrantly online, the lessons learned would translate across the industry. How do actors connect with each other through a camera lens and act honestly in a vacuum, often

unable to see their scene partner? How do we evoke the drama of navigating white-water rapids, or the magnificent scale of the Western American landscape, with bodies in boxes on a screen?

...There’s so much to figure out! I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for the chance to try. _-- Beth Gardiner in the Director’s Note I was glad to see that the opening night

performance of CRT’s first virtual production went off very well. Ms. Gardiner pulled off the herculean task of making everything look easy when it clearly was not. The scenic design by

David Calamari was replicated behind each actor via green screen and I was impressed by its effectiveness. Alex Glynn was the credited lighting designer and had to pull off the design

virtually I would suspect, since some of the actors were in their dorm rooms, three were in NYC and one was acting from Colorado. Costumes designed by Xurui Wang were both period appropriate

and no doubt helped the actors get into their characters. The sound designer Daniel Landry provided an effective sound of rushing water during the rowing scenes. Technical Director/OBS

Consultant Aubrey Ellis and Julie Foh, who was in charge of voice and text undertook a massive task, and worked with Tom Kosis, the production state manager/OBS programmer. Dramaturgs were

UConn grads Eddie Vitcavage and Eilís Garcia. Each video was well-focused and lit and the blocking of the rows of actors was quite impressive. The rows broke apart for the scenes around a

campfire and at one point the actors passed around an apple from which to take one bite each. Seriously. However, on my all-in-one desktop, the sound did not match the video for the entire

performance and even during the pre show speakers. This often made it difficult for me to discern which actor was delivering their line; eventually I began to sew while listening intently to

the dialogue and glancing at my large screen intermittently. I have not experienced this issue with any of the other virtual performances I have watched since March. _Oars up. Oars out._ I

was very impressed with all of the performances, making it difficult to pick out the professionals from the students at first. Equity actor Anaseini Kotoa, a Bay Area native who now resides

in Brooklyn NY, played the roles of O.G. Howland and Tsauwiat in her CRT debut. Margaret Ivey, an Equity actor and a teaching artist based in New York, covered the roles of Seneca and

Bishop. GraceAnn Brooks, a BFA Acting senior at UConn, played both Mr. Asa and Frank Goodman. Jasmine Smith, a senior BA English major at the UConn who was part of CRT’s in-person run of Men

on Boats in the roles of O.G Howland/Tsauwiat, this time played Old Shady. Pearl Matteson, a New York based actor, played Bradley. Alex Campbell, a 2020 graduate of UConn with an MFA

Acting. was the John Wesley Powell and e University of Connecticut senior Camille Fortin was William Dunn . Emma Joy Hill, a playwright, performer, dramaturg, and theatre artist who studied

Playwriting at the University of Connecticut as a Theatre Studies student, took on the role of John Colton Sumner. April Lichtman, a junior BFA Acting major at UConn, was Hall and Lily Ling,

a recent graduate of UConn BFA Acting, and now NYC based, played Hawkins The running time for MEN ON BOATS is approximately 90 minutes, with no intermission. Be aware that this production

contains some mature language mixed into the very contemporary dialogue. Some technical suggestions from CRT are to remember that connection will always be better if you’re hard wired into

the internet and to turn the brightness and volume up on the device you use to view the performance. Recommended devices include laptops, iPads, or a computer plugged into a TV with HDMI.

Phone screens might make some scenes too small to see clearly. Viewers will be muted with your video off the entire time. Be sure to hit the full screen button to watch the production. I

followed CRT’s recommendation of logging into the event at least 15 minutes early in case I experienced any technical difficulties getting in. (I didn’t.) You can enjoy the banjo-pickin

tunes while you wait. This production will run for nine performances October 8th - 18th, streamed live each evening across a dedicated Zoom platform. Live performances for Men on Boats will

be presented via secured streaming link for ticket holders. Click to view the online MEN ON BOATS Playbill: https://drama.uconn.edu/playbill-men-on-boats/ ------------------------- _Nancy

Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and

her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on

her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 __Check out the CCC Facebook page._