An original, silly, but also very personal movie that celebrates the spirit of community and sheds a rare light on the real growing pains of starting a life in the arts. Noam Tomaschoff's feature film directorial debut showcases his impressive ability to balance quirky slapstick with genuinely moving performances all while keeping up a fun steady pace. Richard Kind's performance as Mr. Mortensen is totally credible and human, and seeing him so a Modern Major General battle is incredible. It's always a treat to see Christopher Lloyd in any movie, and despite his short screen time, his presence in the movie looms large and rightfully commands respect. The chemistry between Stephen Friedrich and Tara Holt is strong, and the diverse Tankhouse ensemble each have great standout moments. The script by Noam Tomaschoff and Chelsea Frei, based a lot on their real lives, is easy to follow, funny, and full of surprisingly heartfelt twists and turns as well as very clever and specific references (Gilbert & Sullivan, The Royal Shakespeare Company, Henrik Ibsen, for example).

Not many movies exist like this - and these days it's a bold move to put out something so niche, original, and intimate. If you love Theatre, you will love this movie, and if you don't love Theatre I think you will still find plenty to enjoy about how ruthlessly it satirizes it! I'm already looking forward to what all of the filmmakers will be coming out with next!