San Diego Reader

• Theater
• Hillcrest

The Little Flower of East Orange

Ion Theatre should hang a sign outside — Caution: this play un-contains rage. At times it feels like Stephen Adly Guirgis goes out of his way to offend even hardened sensibilities, as Danny recounts a tormented relationship with his mother. But even though the script often feels beyond the author's control (and may be more pulverizing than profound), the production gives it a stark intensity — you might even say with vomited emotions — that it takes audiences places where local theaters fear to tread. Jeffrey Jones excels as Danny, for whom telling the story reopens a chamber of horrors. The ensemble cast ranks among Ion's finest, and Karin Filijan's lighting matches the plays cue-thick jumps and, amid clouds and shadows, suggests a smidge of grace.

• When: Ongoing until Saturday, December 8, 2012
  • Fridays, 4pm & 8pm
  • Saturdays, 8pm
• Where: Ion Theatre

  3704 Sixth Avenue, San Diego, 92103
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