San Diego Union-Tribune Review: At New Village Arts, talented musical duo bring killer chops to ‘Murder for Two’
CRITIC’S CHOICE
A “ wildly paced romp… Sharing the credit for the show’s success is director AJ Knox, who has crafted a hilarious, fluid, fast-paced, audience-interactive show chock full of visual humor and big-finish moments that pop.
“Knox has infused the show with homages to detective films from the past as well as musical theater tropes. The show is continuously funny, and not just to the audience. Dumas and Houck cracked each other up several times on Saturday night. The show also ends on a high with a blazing-fast four-handed piano encore.”
Praise for AJ Knox in AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
“Inspector Fix… must have trained under France’s most revered Inspector Clouseau. AJ Knox envelops his character without a speck of dignity. His performance is faultless…. A stand-out!” – Elizabeth Youngman, The Village News
“AJ Knox has just the right comic tone as the misguided Inspector Fix!” – Pam Kragen, The San Diego Union-Tribune
Knox is an “audience favorite [as] the bumbling Scotland Yard Inspector Fix. Not only did Knox have a great singing voice, but he has a flair for comedy, presenting the one-step-behind Inspector with perfect timing.” – Tom Robertson, The Vista Press
“Aptly bumbling [and] amusing!” – Pat Launer, Times of San Diego
“Knox is a hoot with his hilarious acting, singing and dancing!” – David Dixon, San Diego Story
“All three [leads] are balanced nicely by AJ Knox’s earnest and yet somewhat hapless Inspector Fix whose comedic turns with Passepartout raise the humor of the show. One of the quartet’s best moments come in the surprisingly lyrical “Sledge Ride” scene in which all four sing of their hopes of completing their tasks as they race by sledge to New York. One of the most touching numbers in the show, it’s Andrew Lloyd Weber-like in its beauty.” – Rebecca Romani, Vanguard Culture
“AJ Knox [is Fix] in a perfect role that suits him comfortably… If you combined Colombo, Inspectors Clouseau and Poirot, Knox is their heir apparent. He hides behind newspapers, peeks around corners and is, in general a royal pain in the arse.” – Carol Davis, San Diego Theatre Critic’s Circle
San Diego Union-Tribune Review: Fresh ideas help New Village Arts’ ‘Little Shop OF HORRORS’ blossom
CRITIC’S CHOICE
“The musical spoof “Little Shop of Horrors” is approaching middle age, but a freshly imagined production that opened Saturday at New Village Arts theater in Carlsbad has made it ageless…
… director AJ Knox’s production at New Village is gender-blind and color-blind, and its alien man-eating plant Audrey II is now entirely unteathered. With a strong-singing cast and wildly creative costumes by Amanda Quivey, it’s fun, creative and lighthearted entertainment with a heart.”
KPBS Feature - Audrey II Comes To Carnivorous Life In ‘Little Shop Of Horrors’
“New Village Arts Theatre delivers delightfully inventive production”
San Diego Union-Tribune Review: Antic, frantic ‘Servant of Two Masters’ is mad for laughs at New Village Arts
“Quick question: Do you have a head?
If so, best leave it at home before attending “The Servant of Two Masters” at New Village Arts, because otherwise there’s a good chance you’ll laugh it right off.
Also, truth be told, for this show you won’t really be needing it.
That’s no knock on the Carlsbad company’s mad, whacked-out, anything-for-a-laugh adaptation of a classic Italian play: When it comes to low comedy, this “Servant” holds the banner high — a word that conceivably also could describe the creators’ mental state when they were writing it…
Samantha Ginn and AJ Knox, the work’s adapters, know their way around, through and underneath (sometimes way underneath) a joke, and their capable cast seems completely game for this exercise in supreme silliness.”
“Best San Diego Theatre of 2019” - James Hebert, The San Diego Union-Tribune
Honorable Mention, “Best San Diego Theatre of 2019” - Critic David Dixon
REVIEWS for The Servant of Two Masters
“After director AJ Knox translated the play from the original Italian, he and Ginn collaborated on a wacky, off-the-wall adaptation that references everything from Monty Python to the Marx Brothers, TV shows and ads, movie stars and musicians, in a madcap mishmash of inanity and insanity. Even Goldoni himself pops up to have his say.” — Pat Launer, Center Stage
“If you’re looking for a zany, high energy show then look no further than THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS at New Village Arts. This world premiere adaption by AJ Knox who also directs, and Samantha Ginn who tackles the role of the titular servant, mines every comedic source for inspiration of this frenetic farce… Updated with more current references, this show does not shy away from upping the comedic stakes or… adding to a joke.” — ErinMarie Rieter, Talk Theatre To Me
“This is escapist entertainment of the wackiest kind.” — David L. Coddon, San Diego CityBeat
“New Village Arts Theatre’s adaptation of Carlo Goldoni’s Italian comedy, Il servitore di due padroni, certainly is a tribute to Commedia dell’arte, the old Italian style of comedy. It is, however, more than that. It pays homage to American comedy itself, with humor ranging from celebrity impressions, sophomoric names, pop culture references, puns, slapstick, occasional shock humor and even a scene in the style of a celebrity roast… [it is] hilarious and accomplishes its unstated goal, which is to make audiences erupt in nonstop laughter from start to finish… Funny and light from the very beginning, the adaptation pays tribute to all the things in American comedy that make us laugh. Ginn and Knox have come up with a hysterically comedic and entertaining Carlsbad production that should leave you exiting the theatre with a smile on your face.” — David Dixon, San Diego Story
“Leave sensibility, manners and class at home as you plunge into this wild, weird and wacky world… a rollicking evening that will require only that you sit back and enjoy the goofiness.” — Jean Lowerison San Diego Gay & Lesbian News
“Skillfully directed… If you are looking for a good belly laugh, then this production is for you!” – Jenni Prisk, Scene by Jenni Prisk
“Hilarious… a low-brow, laugh-out-loud riot! … Forget subtlety and sophistication. Servant of Two Masters is a night of slapstick, corny puns, ribaldry and fart jokes that will keep you on the edges of your seats and leave you howling with laughter!” – Eric George Tauber, San Diego Jewish World
“a new and zany adaptation!” — Carol Davis, San Diego Theatre Critics Circle
“a fast paced, witty, hilarious, gag filled, physical, in-your-face adaptation… [a] fun and a most unique theatre experience!” – Tom Robertson, The Vista Press
“The Servant of Two Masters at New Village Arts is a super high intensity show! Jokes spill out of every other line, and you really have to pay attention to catch them all. There’s lots of wittiness, crazy amounts of wordplay, and wild physical humor throughout. It was a nice breath of fresh air to attend a show that’s 100% comedy.” – Stacy Karyn, Theatre Trip
“Roaringly funny!” – Alexandra Magdaleno, Art Rocks 247
San Diego Union-Tribune Review: ‘Avenue Q’ proves to be right up New Village Arts’ alley
CRITIC’S CHOICE
“[If] time and changing tastes have turned “Avenue Q” into some kind of cultural cul de sac, New Village Arts Theatre is here to prove very much otherwise.
The Carlsbad company has opened its own winning revival of the puppet-centric musical comedy, one that preserves the show’s irreverence while smartly tweaking a few elements to 2018 tastes.
… director A.J. Knox’s crisp, well-cast and well-rehearsed production brings just the right breezy feel to this piece about the dreamers and misfits and fuzzy monsters who populate a downscale New York neighborhood.”
Five San Diego Theatre Critics Circle 2018 Craig Noel Award Nominations:
Outstanding Resident Musical
Outstanding Direction of a Musical: AJ Knox
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Male: Zackary Scot Wolfe (win)
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Female: Cashae Monya
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Male: Tony Houck
Preview: New Village Arts Setting Up Shop on ‘Avenue Q’
With its clutch of fuzzy puppets crooning such tunes as “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” and “The Internet is for Porn,” the show paired the cheery sensibility of a wholesome kids’ TV show with the vibe of a slightly skeezy late-night comedy club.
Now, nearly 15 years after “Avenue Q” hit Broadway — winning three Tony Awards, including best musical — New Village Arts Theatre is reviving the hit show. But this will be what director AJ Knox calls “an ‘Avenue Q’ for 2018.
“A lot in our country has changed in the last 15 years,” says Knox, who’s also the Carlsbad theater’s director of connectivity. “And with that comes a change in the sense of humor.
“Comedy shifts really quickly. But one thing we’ve worked on is retaining the show’s irreverent, take-no-prisoners spirit, (while) kind of updating it.”
KPBS Review of “Psycho Beach Party” at OB Playhouse
“Busch’s kitschy play blends the Frankie and Annette beach party flicks of the 1960s with Hitchcockian psychological suspense thrillers. The result in the hands of the OB Ensemble is high camp, low comedy and lots of fun. The play is directed by A.J. Knox and Jenny Gardham with lively energy and has a wildly talented Trevor Peringer as Chicklet.”