"A Softening of Her Eyes", Crowded Kitchen Players' much acclaimed melodrama, will make a return engagement October 21-28 at The IceHouse in Bethlehem, which means that audiences will enjoy an opportunity to experience for two more weekends that shattering performance of Will Alexander and a brilliant cast of supporting players.
Rarely does an actor create a character so vivid, so electrifying, so riveting as Will's "Emmanuel Morris" --- a former pop singer, combat vet, and recovering drug addict--- who, while on trial for aggravated assault and rape, escapes from the courthouse and makes his way to a popular radio talk show in a desperate attempt to tell his side of the story before he is captured and returned to jail.
"Alexander is so masterful at displaying the many sides of his character, it is difficult to imagine anyone else playing his part," wrote David Howell in his Morning Call review of last June's production of the show.
Kathy Lauer-Williams observed, in her Lehigh Valley Stage review, "Will Alexander Jr. does a masterful job portraying Emmanuel.
"Even though the audience is well aware the character has been charged with violent crimes, Alexander make him so charming and engaging, it is easy to empathize with him, which makes it understandable why the other characters act the way they do.
"It is a mesmerizing performance."
Alexander returns for a limited four-show run of 'A Softening of Her Eyes' at The IceHouse in Bethlehem.
"Alexander gives a strong and believable peformance as Morris. His charisma is unquestionable. Alexander also makes good use of the stage and involves the audience, as if it was the radio or courtroom audience," wrote Paul Willistein in The Bethlehem Press.
"This is an emotionally-compelling performance."
Will last performed with CKP in Walter Mosley's 'The Fall of Heaven', in 2015, in the role of Tempest Landry, a young street-wise Black American who is gunned down by police when his cell phone is mistaken for a handgun.
That production served as the maiden performance in the 'Voices of Conscience: Toward Racial Understanding' theater series in the Lehigh Valley, a brainchild of Crowded Kitchen Players in 2015.
Alexander previously performed lead parts in CKP's productions of 'Death Takes a Holiday', as Prince Sirki/Death; as Prince Mikail Alexandrovitch in 'Tovarich', and as George Horvath in 'Parfumerie', the play that inspired Ernst Lubitsch's classic film 'The Shop Around the Corner' and Nora Ephron's 'You've Got Mail'.
"Will Alexander was riveting, raw, and eloquent, seductive and scary; he delivered an MRI of the soul," offered Geoff Gehman in ICON magazine in his review of 'Softening'.
"This daring drama flips between studio and courtroom; features searing monologues about sexual, military and legal dilemmas; and breaks into refreshing comedy when the AWOL prisoner performs his hit song with his new on-air partners."
Trish Cipoletti plays former investigative reporter Leslie Grant, who now hosts a popular public radio talk show and makes the fateful decision to allow the fugitive Morris a forum on her program.
David Oswald portrays district attorney Mr. Marshall who tries the rape case against Morris.
Dan Ferry plays the public defender, Mr. Davison, who has been assigned the seemingly unwinnable challenge of keeping Morris from spending the rest of his life in jail.
The remainder of the ensemble cast includes Pamela Wallace and Brian Wendt who share the radio booth with Alexander and Cipoletti; trial witnesses Ryan MacNamara, Felecia White, Bruce Brown, Florence Taylor, Nancy Welsh, Brian Keller, and Carla Thew; and radio audience callers Alexandra Racines and Donald M. Swan, Jr.
"A Softening of Her Eyes' a courtroom thriller that is unforgettable and moving," Howell concluded in his Morning Call review.
"CKP’s “Eyes” is gripping and powerful theater with several outstanding performances," it was reported in The Bethlehem Press.
"CKP's 'A Softening of Her Eyes' a riveting courtroom drama", announced Lehigh Valley Stage.
A Softening of Her Eyes' will be performed October 21, 28 at 300PM, and October 26, 27 at 800PM at Charles A. Brown IceHouse, 56 River Street, Bethlehem, Pa as part of The IceHouse Tonight performing arts series.
Tickets are $18 adults, $14 seniors, $10 students.
For tickets and information, please visit www.ckplayers.com or call (610) 395-7176 or email ckplayers @outlook.com