Invisible Theatre News

Olive   and One-Liners  by  Sherilyn Forrester Charles Busch's  Olive and the Bitter Herbs  is a playful little comedy, notable only for its zippy one-liners and its lead character. But what a character she is. And who better to play her than Susan Claassen, IT's artistic director, who has shepherded this company through most of its history. ...  Olive  is a tasty dish. The cast totally invests itself in the season finale's silliness, no matter how disjointed the story. And Claassen, well, she spreads the wisecracking, acerbic, misanthrope with a heart of—well, at least with a heart—across that tiny stage "like buttah." Read the entire review here:  Olive and One-Liners | Review | Tucson Weekly David Alexander Johnston, Eric Anson, Susan Claassen, Susan Kovitz and Jack Neubeck in Olive and the Bitter Herbs.

Review: Invisible Theatre's "Olive and the Bitter Herbs" By Kathleen Allen Arizona Daily Star Oy vey. There is a mighty unpleasant woman on stage at Invisible Theatre. And funny. And annoying. And funnier still. That would be Olive, given a very funny turn by  Susan Claassen  in IT’s production of Charles Busch’s hodgepodge comedy, “Olive and the Bitter Herbs.” Olive is the washed-up and very grumpy actress who lives alone in her New York apartment and does everything she can to run everyone she can off. Here’s a rundown of the play, the production, and all that jazz. Read the entire review here:  Review: Invisible Theatre's "Olive and the Bitter Herbs" Olive (Susan Claassen), the original star of the "Gimme The Sausage" commercial sees an image in the mirror within the mirror that sets off a chain of mad-cap events! -- Credit: Tim Fuller

By Chuck Graham, TucsonStage.com photo by Tim Fuller This Passover Seder becomes a time of truce for (from left) David Alexander Johnston, Eric Anson, Susan Claassen, Susan Kovitz and Jack Neubeck . Watching a culture clash take place in a haunted mirror during a seasonal Jewish holiday doesn’t happen often, but here it is at Invisible Theatre in a Charles Busch-wacky production of “Olive and the Bitter Herbs.” James Blair is at the controls as director, with IT’s managing artistic director Susan Claassen flaunting her love for the eccentric in the title role of Olive Fisher Although that title could well be the name of a popular vegetarian rock band, it is actually Busch’s way of framing Olive as eternally bitter about everything. From the gay couple who live next door in her rent-controlled East 30s Manhattan co-op, to the noisy roomer upstairs (who’s dead now, thank goodness), Olive is unhappy. Not just unhappy, but unhappy-unhappy, expressing herself in the most c

IT serves up Pesach comedy, ‘Olive and the Bitter Herbs’ « AZ Jewish Post Actress Olive Fisher, known for her “Gimme the Sausage” commercial, is a classic New York curmudgeon at war with the world in general and her next door neighbors in particular. Her closed-off life is shaken by the appearance of a ghost in her mirror, but that’s the least of her problems. Can a Passover Seder bring about a temporary truce? Artistic Director Susan Claassen stars in Invisible Theatre’s production of “Olive and the Bitter Herbs” by Charles Busch, which runs April 15-27. For tickets, call 882-9721 or go to www.invisibletheatre.com . The cast of ‘Olive and the Bitter Herbs,’ (L-R): David Alexander Johnston, Eric Anson, Susan Claassen, Susan Kovitz and Jack Neubeck (Tim Fuller)

Invisible Theatre' 'Olive and the Bitter Herbs': It's a howler, we assume Invisible Theatre's 'Olive and the Bitter Herbs': It's a howler, we assume By  Kathy Allen , Arizona Daily Star ... Speaking of laughs,  Susan Claassen , Invisible Theatre’s managing artistic director, knows how to wring them out of every word. So it’s natural that she portray that old grouch, Olive. Director James Blair  has assembled a supporting cast with the chops to back Claassen up:  Eric Anson , David Alexander Johnston ,  Susan Kovitz  and  Jack Neubeck . Read the entire preview here:  Invisible Theatre' 'Olive and the Bitter Herbs': It's a howler, we assume Susan Claassen as Olive sees an image that sets off a chain of events in Invisible Theatre’s “Olive and the Bitter Herbs.”