Ever the contrarians, the folks at The Catastrophic Theatre are running Mickle Maher's Spirits to Enforce, a show that has absolutely nothing to do with the holidays other than the true joy it will bring to all lovers of the avant-garde...Director Jason Nodler creates anextraordinary energy that starts out high and manages to get almost frenetic before a sort of postmodern epiphany (does such a thing exist?) occurs ...The ensemble is terrific...This production is a savory treat in a season awash in sugar.
Maher's work feels more like a symphony than a play. It's a joyride for choral music lovers, and it's best to just strap yourself in tight and enjoy the prose-bending trip...Maher's work defies conventions...The cast —all superb—each bring their own distinct variety of mania to their bizarre characters. The play makes for one snazzy showcase for the current talent trust at Catastrophic...Jason Nodler directs close to the center, keeping true to Maher's idiosyncratic ways. Bless this stalwart troupe for bringing Maher's breathtakingly original voice to Houston. “Spirits to Enforce” is a quote from the epilogue of The Tempest. The very next line, “art to enchant” aptly describes the show.
With most theaters trending to the safe and cozy for the holiday season, leave it to Jason Nodler and his intrepid colleagues at Catastrophic Theatre to serve something bold and crazy — and, in its unique way, absolutely inspired...Spirits to Enforce is the second half of Castastrophic’s two-show series introducing Houston audiences to Chicago playwright Mickle Maher, one of the most originalvoices in American theater today...With its tricky rhythms, periodic outbursts and silences, Spirits plays like a piece of chamber music. As director, Nodler has conducted expertly, with a feeling for the reality of its fantasy...Spirits makes an ideal ensemble showcase for the Catastrophic company. It’s a triumph of deftly calibrated team playing ...Fans of adventurous theater likely will agree there’s one on stage, too. If you see one show this month that has absolutely nothing to do with the holidays, it should be Spirits to Enforce.