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What a glorious surprise!! Eric Ting and the cast of Shipwrecked have "hit it out of the park". Fast paced, incredibly funny and poignant, too. Big laughs heard throughout the theater. Bring the kids as it's a roller coaster adventure ride for young and all. No "E" ticket necessary. (If you're old enough to remember the old Disneyland ticket system.)- Jean
Shipwrecked is billed as "An Entertainment" and that is precisely what it is. It is a stripped-down piece of theater, with the magic created by effective acting, the simplest of staging, and an engaging story. Children of almost any age will appreciate the sprawling tale, and adults will enjoy the thoughtful conclusion. Bring the family and don't miss out on this lovely show.- Daniel G.
I must say that I was so deeply touched by this production, that I wept. The play resonated with me, particularly at this stage in life, it was quite poignant. Shipwrecked is indeed for adults as well as for children. What a wonderful and surprising play. I found this to be a "true", an authentic theater experience; everything I hope that the theater would be at its best creatively, in telling a story. I love the potency of the bare stage, props and great imagination. The stage was filled with the story unfolding. The actors in Shipwrecked were fantastic, and of course we all fell in love with the dog, he REALLY was a dog, in body and spirit. All of the players were simply wonderful and lovely, seamlessly slipping from one role to another like magicians. The musical/sound effects (and musicians) were quite wonderful and very imaginative, adding so much to the overall experience. I felt swept away and shipwrecked on a lost island, far away, as I sat in the audience transfixed.
- Melissa L.
Shipwrecked is a powerful play of comic and tragic dimensions that should be experienced by young and old alike. The lead actor commands a presence that keeps the audience engaged thru adventure after adventure; the other 4 cast members fulfill multi roles with swiftness and ease and both comic and tragic effectiveness. The fast paced staging and costume transformation keeps the audience riveted. Don't miss! - RCW
It's unbelievable how such a small cast can do such a big production! Very well thought out and done. Mike Ryan strikes again as Bruno, the dog, and brings the house down.
Double thumbs up, and even the toes, too!- Simon
It was a magical evening that transported our family to the outrageous and courageous exploits of the storyteller and adventurous hero. Loved it!- Alan W.
How rare it is that a performance is equally spellbinding and enjoyable for both kids and adults. If I had children still living at home I'm certain that through this performance of Shipwrecked! they'd be fans of the stage for a lifetime, and that's quite a gift. Thank you Eric Ting and Cast!! - Denise O.
The best of this year's season, and that's no small thing. This is a wonderful, thoughtful, thoroughly entertaining play for audiences of all ages. Bring your kids, bring your grandmother. Everybody will love this play.- Tom Graves
Dierk Torsek delivers a tour-de-force as Louis de Rougemont in this intriguing and thought-provoking adventure tale. The supporting cast of Karen Aldridge, Mike Ryan, Kristin Schmitz, and Paul Baird are also delightful. Mike Ryan deserves special acclaim for his "Spot"-on interpretation of the dog Bruno and his gloriously funny cameo as a short Queen Victoria! I'm still laughing when a remembrance of Ryan as Victoria pops into my head.- Sonya
The main character had the audience in the palm of his hand from the opening lines through to the end. An amazing performance...Bravo - Bob S
"Shipwrecked" - a talented cast producing magic before your eyes. Don't miss it!
- Curt S.
This was more incredible than I imagined! What an amazing production and cast, performing and changing roles/genders/costumes at breakneck speeds, keeping the audience curious and captivated! And the stories are so endearing, reminiscent of Lif of Pi. I hope to see it again and again, to re-live the wonderful adventures of Louis de Rougemont! - Elizabeth
Wow! I was intrigued by the actors' ability to alter themselves to fit the roles they played. I don't know what to say! everything else has already been covered, but i did enjoy watching Mike Ryan's performance as all of the. characters he became.- Andie
The performance I saw was the best performance I have ever seen in a long time. The actors did a wonderful job and I could tell they were working hard! This play inspired me so much that a young actor like myself wants to keep at her passion and never give up! THANK YOU SANTA CRUZ!- Maddison
WOW! An amazing performance. My husband and I were there at the opening preview performance, we were on the edge of our seats throughout the evening. Once again SSC has put on a incredible show! Thank you and we look forward to next year!- Denise Bennett
This show was a total delight and all the cast were terrific. Mike Ryan was especially notable with his multiple roles. His Bruno the dog and Queen Victoria were especially fantastic and right on. Great show, delightful entertainment and something that shouldn't be missed.
Great, Great, Super GREAT!!!!!- Paul Thiltgen
This was a stunning, beautiful, hilarious, and touching piece of theatre. And a seamless set of performances by all involved - no easy feat considering the number of roles they play! I heard from 8-year-olds and 70-year-olds who LOVED it. See it.- Leigh Slater
A really great show. The acting was great and the whole thing was hilarious. - Isabel (14)
Truly fantastic - I have seldom if ever had my own imagination so engaged and so suspended disbelief in the theater, let alone with such little reliance on tech effects. The art of storytelling indeed.- Jim in Foster City
We took Donna's 90 year old mother to see the play for her birthday. We also took her to Beach Blanket Babylon in San Francisco and to the Cabrillo Theatre for I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. Of the three, Shipwrecked stood heads taller. Great acting. The dog was so funny. We'll be back.- Ed Smith
Mike Ryan is the most extraordinary scene stealing actor. KUDOS!- ilene
Loved it! There were *only* 5 players?!?!? Seemed like a lot more... Great job, cast! My kids thoroughly enjoyed it and we all laughed, cried, and got "confused" together. Unique, good, clean fun! - Jennifer - Jennifer Andrew
EXCELLENT!!! The Actors work hard to bring off this amazing romp which had us talking for days. Loved the bits with the boxes--just like when we were kids and pretending. Thanks for a really enjoyable evening.- Mary Comfort
Having seen Shipwrecked twice now, I am filled with admiration for the superb directing, acting and stagecraft. This production honors our capacity to suspend disbelief and to enter our imaginations and emerge from the theater feeling fortunate to have shared the journey with so many other appreciative people.- Don Rothman
My family and I enjoyed the production very much. Loved the pantomime, the creativity in the set, how so much was left to the imagination which seemed to make it even more colorful like the difference one feels when reading a book verses seeing the movie--the book is always better because the imagination can expand beyond the print. That is how it was for this production. Thank you so much!
- April Sembrat, Santa Cruz
What a treat! I look forward each summer to taking my nephew, niece and any friends to a live show and Shipwrecked was just the ticket! In this economy I truly believe that the value of live, heartfelt performance is a gift worth fitting into our budget. I am humbled at how hard folks are working to keep theater going in our community. Bless you!- Marie
Shipwrecked is a marvelous play! The cast members are very talented. I was spellbound beginning with the first scene. Bring the kids and enjoy this wonderful production--Bravo!
- Robin G.
Somehow I doubt that I am the only person that was disappointed in this show. It has been billed as appropriate for all ages. This was not the fun, child-friendly show as what we have seen in the past during the Holidays. I would much rather have taken my 7 & 9-year-old children to see the MUCH more entertaining Midsummer's Night Dream. Mike Ryan was fabulous, as usual, but alas it wasn't enough to salvage the show for our family.- Laurie
This play was one of the top theatrical experiences of my many years enjoying theater. It ranks up there with "Equus" and "Tiny Alice." Such a pleasant surprise for something dubbed "an entertainment."- Madeline S.
This was a remarkable play to see. I attended the performance with my husband, my two teenage daughters, my mother, and brother. Everyone felt like they had seen something very special and it transported us away from the usual day to day routines of life. We shared a great theater experience that gave us something talk about after.- 1st Time, but not the last!
None of the reviews I had read for Shipwrecked prepared me for the amazing performance I was fortunate enough to watch on Saturday evening. It seemed that from the moment of Louis deRougemont's first words, I was spellbound! and at the final curtain, I was reluctant to return to the world of reality. No amount of applause would have been enough praise for the fine performance.- Marianne J.
I laughed and laughed. I cried. I was delighted again and again. Strong performances of the magic of imagination so richly displayed with simple sets and subtle twists makes this my favorite performance ever.- Jacquy Griffith
We were surprised and delighted by Shipwrecked. The cast was superb. It was indeed,"an entertainment". We wish our grandchildren could have seen it. - Marshall A. Greene, MD
Absolutely excellent.I was so impressed with the quality of all the players, especially the lead.- Gene Z.
Although this was billed as a family play, I was saddened by the ending. The first 90% was lovely and appropriate for the children, ages 8 and 11. The ending was sort of like a train wreck...I wanted to get up and leave. My eleven year old pronounced that he hated it, he had laughed and enjoyed up until that point, but the depressing conclusion put a sad spin on what was otherwise a smashing performance. The acting was superb. I would ask that in the future the company produce a great play for families and children in the summer production that ends on a high note. Children need to be inspired by live theater, not depressed by it. - Kim D
I did SO enjoy "Shipwrecked..." The story, and those brilliant performers, really spoke to my inner child. I was so surprised (and troubled) by the end part of the story - it was reality setting in - which I know must happen at times, and I found myself wanting desperately for it all to return to the wonder and excitement of the beginning of the tale. "I refuse to grow up and be serious," my inner child was saying.
I am so happy that we have Shakespeare Santa Cruz. I may only get to attend one summer performance each year, but each year I am treated to an amazing production in a beautiful setting. Ride away on your sea turtle, Sir! Return to the glory of adventure - wherever it may be! - Joanne Berube
I loved Shipwrecked! What stellar performances from the cast. I am especially thankful that we witnessed the tour de force of Dierk Torsek.
I would not, contrary to most reviews, call this a show for the entire family - but definitely teenager-appropriate. I was very pleasantly surprised by the profound grownup themes it managed to delve into (which may be a little too confusing for the, say, 10 and under range). But to all you adults out there who can appreciate the light in the dark and the dark in the light of life, and who love great theater: DON'T MISS IT!- MR
It was creative, funny, interesting, heart-warming - we loved it!
- Carola
I was disappointed in this long, rambling tale--sorry I'd dragged my teen-age grandsons to it.
Bring back Kate Hawley any day.
(We were, however, charmed by Mike Ryan as Bruno, the dog.)- P. Arozena
A magical, well acted, well conceived,
well directed play. It was theater at its best.Entertaining,gripping, fast paced, riveting. We laughed, we cried and laughed some more more. We left altered by the experience.
Storytelling at its best. - Heidi W.
Dierk Torsek was fantastic! What a story teller. He had the entire theater in grossed and in the palm of his hand the whole evening. Could not have imagined it played by any other. Mike Ryan is superb at anything he’s assigned. Have never been disappointed. I laughed so hard when he was acting as the queen I thought I’d piddled my pants. Terrific show!- Jeff
The story was a dud but the acting made up for it. - BF
We all, two adults and two teenagers, really enjoyed "Shipwrecked". However, we all unanimously agreed that we could have done without the sad ending. The acting was uniformly great. The two main supporting actors did an amazing job of switching rapidly from a wide variety of characters. Great show!- Mark Z.
One of the best performances I have seen at SSC in the 15 years that I have been attending. Powerful performances and creative use of sets and staging. Thank you for a great theatre experience.- Arlene
Totally fun and well done. - Meg
Just an absolutely enthralling performance that now, almost a month later, I still remember. I drove from Santa Barbara for the two plays, Julius Caesar and this one, Shipwrecked. What a treat, especially Shipwrecked.
It was laugh-out-loud funny, touching, sad, thoughtful and, oh, so memorable.
Buying the tickets was a whim - I last attended SSC in the early 80' when a friend of my family's was there, Cleo Barber, and I feel ashamed and sad at having missed so much. But seeing this Shipwrecked, just stunning, and it almost made up for all those missed performances. Thank you for it, all of SSC, thank you. - Betsy
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