Director Richard Baird thoughtfully layers the play with gemlike moments of humor and sweetness. Christopher M. Williams, who’s a gifted physical comedian, and Leilani Smith gives a deep, rich, warts-and-all performance . “Dancing Lessons” is a crowd-pleasing play to welcome audiences back to live in-person theater.
-Pam Kragen, The San Diego Union~Tribune
What do you get when you mix the brilliant performances by NC Rep's Associate Artistic Director Christopher M. Williams and award winning actress Leilani Smith in the opening show for NC Rep's 40th season, &Dancing Lessons? You get a play that will mesmerize you, educate you, make you laugh, make you sympathize and understand and bring you to your feet at the final curtain for a performance you will not forget.
-TR Robertson, The Vista News
Can people change? Is it true that most people are broken, only in different ways? Playwright Mark St. Germain explores these possibilities in the touching, often funny one-act play. "Dancing Lessons” is the first live show at the theater since the pandemic sidelined all such activities in February, 2020. That’s reason enough to celebrate.
-Jean Lowerison, San Diego Stage and Screen
This beautiful, poignant play is the perfect return-to-live-theater.
-Eva Trieger, (San Diego Jewish World)
Directed by Richard Baird is able to build a lot of layers of connection, humor, and conflict during the 90-minute show. He makes sure the show is focused on the power of connection, and building an authentic relationship between two opposite people.
-EM Reiter, Talktheatretome.com
My mom said she didn’t want the show to end (despite the fact there is no intermission). She said, she wished it was a television show, so she could watch these two characters, (actors), Ever and Senga, every week. Compelling characters, grabbing you by the heart. A well deserved standing ovation.
-Kathy Carpenter, (Splash Magazines)
North Coast Repertory Theatre confronted the pandemic head on. It produced Zoom readings and then progressed to recorded productions taped in its Solana Beach facility. Now, North Coast Repertory is also taking a lead in welcoming audiences back. to indoor theatre, with a Mark St. Germain’s two-hander, Dancing Lessons. It’s a good choice for a new start.
-Bill Eadie, San Diego Story
