Brendan, I know you're a theatre reviewer and used to your press tickets, but as a foodie, I have to say: for a show like this, with five courses and wines, $89 is a STEAL. In terms of the overall package, I suppose there's little around to compare it to. The closest thing in town is Teatro Zinzanni, where the general admission is $136, and the food at Zinzanni is utterly forgettable. Considering the quality of the dinner at Nordo (that salmon? incredible!!), it reminded me more of the Herbfarm experience, which starts at $179. Seriously, B, you have to remember that people spend this kind of money nightly for dinner without any kind of performance, which, in this case, was absolutely charming!

Five courses of pub food and four glasses of wine at Smith Tavern comes to about $82.50. The seafood we are serving at Cafe Nordo is the absolute freshest I have ever seen, the salmon literally plucked from the waters off La Push hours before we serve it, perfect kumomoto oysters, and buttery geoduck. Everything is organic, local, and sustainable. The wine, like the food, is all local and all delicious.

Our opening night, which you attended Brendan, was admittedly a theatrical mess. I know that night didn't represent what we are doing, and feel confident that we have fixed it, but it is what you saw, and I ordinarily would never comment on a review of my work. But we are trying to do something different, trying to find our "recipe for success," and to suggest that we aren't worth the ticket price when you couldn't even cook the meal we are serving at home for less than $89 is just wrong.

And it's only $79 on Thursdays.

-Erin Brindley
Director & Co-Producer
Cafe Nordo

Seriously? When was the last time you had a 5 course meal and wine flight for under $150?! The food and wine is fantastic, fresh, sustainable, and local! On top of all that you get a wonderful theatrical performance and great service! I have to say, I left thrilled and felt like I had gotten a steal of a deal. Perhaps you are a little out of touch.

I am admittedly confused. Mr. Kiley, I usually appreciate your writing style and your reviews even when I don’t have the same experience as you with a given performance. You are good at what you do.

But this time, something is very off with your work. The evidence would be in the lack of detail. Your review seems rushed, incomplete, oddly out of balance for what you tend to provide.

For example, you mention some details of the show and script, but almost nothing about the food itself, flavors, pairings of wine with each course . . . you have nothing at all to say? It is so anomalous that you do not comment on such an important detail that it seems that you have ascended the Ivory Tower of Critics: you must be taking your position for granted.

If you are going to make your main point about the price of the ticket, you had better create a complete review of the value and experience presented by the whole of the project, Café Nordo. I for one was intrigued and entertained by the performance itself, and definitely thrilled with the meal served. Not only did I get to talk with people at my table about my food experience (what’s the fun of going to a restaurant—don’t you always want to talk with the next table about what they are having?), but we also had a great time watching the show and waiting for what was to come next.

Now there’s something I have not experienced in quite a while: the exciting nervousness of anticipation during a performance. Not only did I not know how the meal would be served, but did not know what my server would say, how she would be involved, and how she might involve me in the performance. Plus, because of the way the show drew our attention to the meal, I haven’t had such a good chat about food and wine in a long time. I mean, we really discussed it in detail after the meal and show. (And by the way, can I PLEASE find a bottle of that rosé and the Stella Fino red wine?). We talked about where we shop, what seafood is considered sustainable to buy, and so on. It was enjoyable and original.

Every play, dance performance, and movie I go to, I feel like I know in large part what’s coming. For this performance and meal (and MEAL, Mr. Kiley) by Café Nordo, I just had no idea. I tried to figure out what was coming next, then forgot to try. . . because I was enjoying myself so much.

For that feeling, I would pay even more than I did, frankly.

Please revisit this, Mr. Kiley. You have a job to do. And you didn’t do it at all well this time. That is a fair expectation given your position, well-known name, and the reputation of The Stranger itself as a professional publication.

"The cheaper the ticket, the more enthusiastic the review" ? Hmm, who can buy your love, Brendan Kiley? I love cheap eats as much as the next person, but I don't let it determine what I expect when I go out to eat. Seattle restaurant market research directly impacts my daily life. (I have worked at one of Seattle's favorite restaurants for over five years.) There is no restaurant in town that would serve even mediocre food and four flights of lifeless table wine for $89. I'm disappointed not to have read more about your thoughts on the overall experience. You're flatly wrong about what food & wine actually cost. Why not spend those four paragraphs on your vision of 'finding a reliable recipe for success'?

I am no theater critic, but I have a good understanding of an enjoyable evening out taking in the arts along with a fine meal and drink. We in Seattle are fortunate to have vast choices in places to spend our theatre, food, and drink dollar. With all these choices particularly among new places and experiences that I feel like I never have time to try, Nordo's Bounty has earned my highest compliment: I'm going back for seconds! And two of my friends are as well. And we're putting our own reputations on the line by bringing more folks with us.

As the other posters have noted on Mr. Kiley's economic analysis, you will not find better value for your theatre, food, and wine dollar. And frankly it's not even about bang for the buck. The cast is fiercely entertaining, the production is creative and unique, the food is stellar, and the wine nicely ties everything together. That it all only costs $89 is a bonus.

I'll agree with Mr. Kiley that the script is a little soft, but to try to couch this as a value proposition is to miss the point entirely. The fantastic (and rare) local wines paired with imaginative dishes (the shellfish presentation simultaneously delighted me and blew me away) provide more than sufficient value.

This is a great opportunity to relax, toss back an oyster and a glass of champagne and have some fun with your food. I know I will be bringing my friends back for another round.

The argument seems to be that the idea is good, the motivation is good, the food is good, the presentation is good, the characters are good, and the script is overdone (or at least, it was on opening night, when most brand new shows haven't yet been trimmed into fighting shape). But you seem to conclude that for that one reason, it's not worth the ticket price, which is about the same as a prix fixe dinner with wine at most local restaurants that have no entertainment at all? I don't quite understand the logic.

Like you, I found most aspects to be good (some quite good) and I thought the script needed work. But I'd say $89 ($79 on Thursdays, as Erin pointed out) is a great deal, and I'm eager to see how the show shapes up over the rest of its run. For that price, I'm planning on going a couple of times.

I equate great food, great wine, great music, and great table conversation with great entertainment.

I have to admit that I am confused by this review. Despite it being a "noble endeavor", you found the performance to not be "thematically germane". What does that mean? Isn't the point of attending artistic performances to have your perspective, rationale, and personal biases challenged? To experience something from a unique point of view? Our table, and the tables around us, were having lively conversations about the meaning and message of the show, that grew more boisterous (did I mention great wine?) with each course.

If my friends and I are looking for thematically germane entertainment, we'd just meet up for some Amy's Organic microwaveable meals (don't knock 'em until you try them) and discuss the social and political implications of the latest episode of the Simpsons. But instead, we'd much rather build our community by sharing a fantastically fresh, local, organic and sustainably harvested meal - all while enjoying some of Seattle's finest performers dancing and singing bawdy songs.

There are certainly elements of the show that are still maturing, but it is early in the run. For $89, I thought it was a bargain. We are gathering a second group of friends for another trip on the S.S. Nordo!

But, how was the music? You said nothing about that.

Brendan - your review was ignorant, small minded, and misinformed - all at the same time. I have watched a lot of television and movies in my lifetime and I have to say, without a doubt, that Bounty! was the greatest show in the entire history of theater. I'm not sure what show you went to. You obviously have no idea what you're talking about.

And the food was INCREDIBLE. It was so fresh and so local. It was easily better than Captain D's and was every bit the equal of the best meals I've had at Red Lobster (though I wish that they could have served Cheddar Bay Biscuits.)

I'm definitely going to see Bounty! again. (Though next time I'll bring biscuits and popcorn shrimp because I like popcorn shrimp.) You should delete your review and replace it with mine because you're dumb.

Seems like a pretty normal Brendan Kiley review to me. I don't personally care for his reviews because I think he's not particularly engaged with theater as a subject and I think it shows. Your mileage may vary. But like them or not, who can really be surprised, confused, or outraged by them? They are what they are, artists get good or bad reviews every day whether they are deserved or not. It's part of the gig and if you work in the arts you should know that by now.

I'm also not likely to see this show: well-priced or not, good script or not, I can't afford it. Sorry, but 80 bucks is not accessible to me, a fellow artist, therefore I am clearly not the intended audience. Good luck, Nordonites.

It's interesting that most of these comments are along the "yeah, it might not be that great theater- but great food for a great price". I go to theater to see theater. I disagree with 95% of what Kiley's reviews, but sounds like the foodie's weren't pleased enough that he didn't focus on the food as much as they did.

I attended Bounty! during the preview weekend, and found the entire experience utterly charming. From the pre-show games of three card monty while enjoying a glass of champagne, to the rum soaked baked alaska served by zombies, each moment of the show was lovingly crafted, and each course delicious.

Having also attended their previous show, I appreciated the heightened theatricality of Bounty! The singing, dancing, and character development that accompanied the food. As many others have mentioned, the food and wine alone are worth the price of admission, the rest of the show is simply a delightful bonus.

We loved this show. And yeah, since Kiley criticized this as a value proposition I can only assume he doesn't eat out much. I would have paid ninety bucks just to eat that salmon, and between the duet with the captain and the stowaway, the widow's lament, and the final surprise return of the crew, this was seriously fun theatre.