Clifton Performance Theatre

Easily the best live performance I’ve seen in months.
I suggest you see A Behanding in Spokane, before the run is up. Great cast, humorous scripts, adult material.
The Ludlow setting for the Clifton Performance Theatre leaves a bit to be desired. «Intimate» is likely a preferred descriptor, as the performers essentially act in your lap. An apartment basement with a column at the center of the «stage» is perhaps not ideal, but the entertainment value stands above that of the Shakespeare Theater or the Showboat. You need to give this place a try.
Also, wine by donation is available and you can drink throughout the performance which is always a plus.
I guarantee I will be back.

This is a unique and interesting performance space located in Cincinnati’s Gaslight District, just down the hill from the University of Cincinnati. The theater itself is down a set of steps to what appears to be the basement of an apartment building, and is easily identifiable if you look for the lit maroon canopy jutting out over the sidewalk. It sits just down the street from a nice selection of local restaurants and bars, and just a couple of blocks from the unconventional Esquire theatre. This is a small space venue, with seating for maybe 50 or 60 patrons. They specialize in lesser known works, put on by a couple of different performance groups. I have had the pleasure of seeing 4 or so plays here, by both the Untethered Theater ensemble and the Clifton Players.
The casting I have seen so far has been excellent, with a mix of local talent. The diminuative space doesn’t lessen the quality or intensity of the actors. The material often leans towards the adult and/​or black humor side; works that make you think a little more than many local play selections. The lighting is good, the sound system and acoustics are very reasonable too, considering the space. Their website generally seems to have previews and behind-​the-​scene videos of upcoming works, and you can find their schedule on the
website, in addition to their own. Tickets are in the 12 – 15 dollar range, which I find very reasonable for an enjoyable evening in a close-​up setting such as this. I believe they have offered 5 dollar «rush seats» for some perfomances. They offer these 5 minutes before the play starts for the unfilled seats. An excellent bargain if you are on a budget, and a great way to fill seats. I have seen this taken advantage of a couple of times and it seems to be a good deal all around. Of course, on certain nights there will be no seats available, something you can avoid by ording tickets ahead of time.
As stated above, it is an intimate setting, with the front row of seats often within a couple of feet of the performers. The layout of the set, stage and the audience varies, depending on the performance. Refreshments are available, and unlike Proctor & Gamble Hall at The Aronoff, you can have your drink in your seat during the performance. There are a couple of individual restrooms, and you should heed the posted warnings… being as that you are in an underground space. There is a low hanging pipe as you walk into the forward one, some that act to heat the building that can they can get pretty hot in the winter time, and other minor obstacles.
There are a couple of downsides — one of them owing to being in the subterranean location. There is a support beam in the main room, which, depending on the setup and the seating arrangement, can give a restricted view to some of the seats. This place is general admission, so the earlier you get here, the more likely this won’t be an issue for you, since you get to choose your own seats. The other item is with the back row seating. While the majority of the front seats are padded metal chairs, the back rows by nature, have been tall bar-​like chairs. This seemed to be a little uncomfortable for some of the older folks, and for those of shorter stature. It can lead to a little leg-​dangling if you aren’t blessed with appropriately long limbs.
I highly recommend checking this little theatre out. Between the reasonable prices, the above average acting, and the closeness to the performers, it makes for an extremely enjoyable and memorable evening.