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Article: Playhouse half empty; ON THE CUSP OF ITS 30TH SEASON, THE IDEALISTIC ILLUSION THEATER SEARCHES ITS SOUL AND SEEKS TO REIGNITE ITS BOX OFFICE.(ENTERTAINMENT)
- Article from:
- Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)
- Article date:
- September 26, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Star Tribune Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Graydon Royce; Staff Writer
`Mercy of a Storm" seemed destined for good things when it opened in Minneapolis in January. The local premiere was written by esteemed playwright Jeffrey Hatcher and had enjoyed a long run at Florida Stage. Top-flight actors Steven Hendrickson and Carolyn Pool had been skillfully directed by Guthrie literary manager Michael Bigelow Dixon. Twin Cities advance press noted the strong Florida reviews.
Yet, as the lights dimmed at Illusion Theater on opening night, the comfortable 237-seat auditorium held no more than 80 bodies. Not even rave reviews from both daily newspapers could generate any heat, and "Mercy" ended a ...