Date Night: "The Bad Seed"

Sometimes, as a couple, you fall into a rut and get bored. Before you realize it, you're miserable. In a worse case scenario, you want to run screaming from the house. Before you resort to drastic measures, enjoy a little horror of a different kind: the theatre!

There's a great play in Orlando at The Breakthrough Theatre, and all you have to do is call 407-920-4034 to make reservations. The play? "The Bad Seed," by Maxwell Anderson, which was also a movie, although its campiness is different than the play itself. Their website is down, so catch them on Facebook for information and pictures.

Director Wade Hair guides his actors to victory in this delightful night out for anyone, but particularly for couples. Why? The play's murderous villian will leave you needing someone to hold onto. Who could that be? Katie Mecca and Clarissa Moon share the part, but on the night the group was in attendance, Clarissa brought the house down with her evil, mature grin. She will not disappear from entertainment anytime soon.

Standouts in the cast include Sharon Barbour Tedder as Monica, a fast-talking, nosy neighbor, which she plays to perfection, and fortunately for Ms. Tedder, she doesn't disappoint the intention of the writer, either. Kevin Hudson portrays the loving father to the main character, Christine, played by Jennifer Rea. When Hudson enters the room, you know it, and the mood of the stage is lifted immensely, without being a distraction. Hudson and Rea play very well off of each other. Tabitha Rox portrays the best drunk since Chaplin. Truth.

Notable mentions in this tale of murder, mystery, and love are Sarah Phillips and David Hiller. They play excellent supporting characters.

Catch them on Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p. m., or Monday at 8 p.m. You might just end up running and screaming from the "house."

The theatre is intimate, therefore, perfect for date night, and it is a "black box" theatre.