Pudd’nhead Productions and Ines Wurth present

“Rowland’s cleverly constructed tale has few pat answers, and...a psychological deftness that resonates.... Willcox and de Barros chart their characters’ progression into adult disillusionment with devastating accuracy. Zinsser’s sensitive and keenly paced staging...invest[s] Rowland’s stylish play with gut-wrenching immediacy.”

Photo Credit: Valerie Dillman

“Jennifer Rowland’s well-crafted, moving script asks pertinent questions...The Contest is a solid, traditional rep theatre piece [with] performances of depth and grace, particularly Jules Willcox as luminous, vulnerable Amanda and Heleya de Barros’ manipulative ingénue Faith.”

“LA-based playwright Jennifer Rowland poses a lot of interesting questions about talent, originality, what it takes to succeed and what might be sacrificed along the way, as well as the difference between a solid body of work and a sizzling masterpiece.”

“There are touches of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, of Art and even of All About Eve in this wholly absorbing, sharp play about ambition, love (or at least sex), trust, weakness and how you measure success in life...This is a real play, often witty, always involving and excellently staged.”

“This performance is full of passion, exploring core values, morals and desires.  It challenges the audience at every turn, and questions whether what we get is every really what we wanted – with some valuable lessons. The performers are extremely convincing and committed to their roles, which just heightens the electric atmosphere of the many twists and turns of an original and innovative plot.”

“The play was...grounded and true to real life, as well as unpretentious in the way the subject matter was approached.”

“After an overdose of political polemic at this year’s Fringe, it’s refreshing to spend an hour watching this very human drama.”

“Sarah Zinsser's thought-provoking production quite rightly emphasizes the characters' personalities...The performers are at their best...Willcox's amiable genius captures the energy of kids in their salad days...de Barros' calculating turn as Faith makes a truly believable transition from kittenish girlhood to angsty adulthood, shifting with convincing chilliness from girly manipulator to 30-something ice queen.”