We've just returned from a long road trip which, while not overwhelmed with playgoing, did include two of the three ten-minute play flights at the Source Festival in Washington, D.C. We caught all three flights (25 plays) last year, but only scheduled two flights (12 of 18 plays offered this year) for this visit due to other obligations. In addition to catching up with family present and future and some good eating, we once again enjoyed most if not all of the offerings. Source solicits scripts from around the world. They got 700 in the first year and 500 for this year's presentation, so you can imagine that they get to pick the best of the best.
They also mine from a great crop of actors each year, and each show gets its own DC-area freelance director. Some are very funny; some are quirky or weird; and several are quite intense, too -- such as one about a young female recruit in the Airborne whose parachute fouls and we learn about her as she falls towards her likely death. As it was last year, a good and inspirational experience.
We have more theater coming up, but I will report on that as it happens.
I also managed to wrap up a ten-minute script called "Progress," and have moved that along to a possible outlet. Meanwhile, on virtually all of the other scripts, I wait.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
On the play trail, again
We've been keeping up our theater-going escapades lately, with three very different shows in three very different venues but each of them chiefly light-hearted and good for a chuckle.
We started by taking in the opening night of "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown," the musical, performed quite ably by six young actors on the Kernersville Elementary School stage. Kernersville Little Theatre normally does a musical in June each year, and this was one of the best I have seen (and we've seen most of them since 1990 or so). The show used only one keyboard (on-stage) and the six performers in great costumes to represent their respective "Peanuts" comic strip characters. It was a lot of fun to watch, and pretty much glitch-less on the technical side as well.
The very next night we were off to sit in "our seats" at Triad Stage in Greensboro, for their updated and shortened version of Moliere's "Tartuffe." It was not a show or story I was familiar with, but the tale of hypocrisy and fraud in the name of religion certainly had its moments. I found it to be just a slight bit over-the-top in some of the posturing, with the understanding that it was, after all, period comedy updated. All in all, still an entertaining stop in the theater.
Finally, we caught Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance's very fun second run of Del Shores' "Sordid Lives," which included fave area actors Cheryl Roberts and Ken Ashford along with others in the long-and-narrow theater space the Alliance now uses. We also caught up with Mikey Wiseman, who was helping backstage, in town from his extended run in Fort Myers with "Church Basement Ladies." He's about to go back out, on tour this time, as the understudy to William Christopher (who played the Chaplain in the TV version of "M*A*S*H"). Busy man!
Meanwhile, I came back from Spoleto with an idea for a 10-minute script, and I'm getting closer to finalizing that one. Another script is on its way to yet another competition, so at least the playwriting is not entirely moribund.
Soon, we're off to see 12 different ten minute plays being done, so more about that soon.
We started by taking in the opening night of "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown," the musical, performed quite ably by six young actors on the Kernersville Elementary School stage. Kernersville Little Theatre normally does a musical in June each year, and this was one of the best I have seen (and we've seen most of them since 1990 or so). The show used only one keyboard (on-stage) and the six performers in great costumes to represent their respective "Peanuts" comic strip characters. It was a lot of fun to watch, and pretty much glitch-less on the technical side as well.
The very next night we were off to sit in "our seats" at Triad Stage in Greensboro, for their updated and shortened version of Moliere's "Tartuffe." It was not a show or story I was familiar with, but the tale of hypocrisy and fraud in the name of religion certainly had its moments. I found it to be just a slight bit over-the-top in some of the posturing, with the understanding that it was, after all, period comedy updated. All in all, still an entertaining stop in the theater.
Finally, we caught Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance's very fun second run of Del Shores' "Sordid Lives," which included fave area actors Cheryl Roberts and Ken Ashford along with others in the long-and-narrow theater space the Alliance now uses. We also caught up with Mikey Wiseman, who was helping backstage, in town from his extended run in Fort Myers with "Church Basement Ladies." He's about to go back out, on tour this time, as the understudy to William Christopher (who played the Chaplain in the TV version of "M*A*S*H"). Busy man!
Meanwhile, I came back from Spoleto with an idea for a 10-minute script, and I'm getting closer to finalizing that one. Another script is on its way to yet another competition, so at least the playwriting is not entirely moribund.
Soon, we're off to see 12 different ten minute plays being done, so more about that soon.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Wrapping up this year's Spoleto
The rest of our slightly shorter visit to Spoleto this year had the stronger offerings, in our opinion. We enjoyed The Reckoning, a Chicago-based long-form improv group, in their show at Theatre 99, one of our usual stops for Piccolo Spoleto events.
We also took in "Don John," at the Memminger (a recently renovated space where Andy worked the last several years, this year as Master Electrician). This was presented by the Kneehigh Theatre group from Cornwall (England). They were at Spoleto three years ago, doing an astonishingly entertaining telling of the "Tristan and Iseult" tale (which is set in Cornwall and Ireland). This play was an updated interpretation of the Don Juan/Don Giovanni story, set (sort of) in a carnival. The set ideas, lighting and sound were all fascinating, and so was most of the play -- though I have to compare, and "Tristan" wins for overall achievement. Nevertheless, these people are chock-full of ideas, even if some of them don't always hit home.
Our final show before taking off for home was a one-man (well, there was also a musician who pitched in now and then) presentation by a gent from Wales, which chiefly reflected on his experience when his father passed away, and connected (in the theme of death) to a time when he "babysat" a rabbit for neighbors -- and the rabbit promptly passed away. Though a reviewer for the main newspaper in Charleston ripped it apart, I felt it certainly had its moments and some effective times. Maybe not the greatest thing ever, but good. If only the family with the three year old hadn't crazily decided this was something they should do together ....
Anyway, as always, some interesting times and experiences at a great Festival.
We also took in "Don John," at the Memminger (a recently renovated space where Andy worked the last several years, this year as Master Electrician). This was presented by the Kneehigh Theatre group from Cornwall (England). They were at Spoleto three years ago, doing an astonishingly entertaining telling of the "Tristan and Iseult" tale (which is set in Cornwall and Ireland). This play was an updated interpretation of the Don Juan/Don Giovanni story, set (sort of) in a carnival. The set ideas, lighting and sound were all fascinating, and so was most of the play -- though I have to compare, and "Tristan" wins for overall achievement. Nevertheless, these people are chock-full of ideas, even if some of them don't always hit home.
Our final show before taking off for home was a one-man (well, there was also a musician who pitched in now and then) presentation by a gent from Wales, which chiefly reflected on his experience when his father passed away, and connected (in the theme of death) to a time when he "babysat" a rabbit for neighbors -- and the rabbit promptly passed away. Though a reviewer for the main newspaper in Charleston ripped it apart, I felt it certainly had its moments and some effective times. Maybe not the greatest thing ever, but good. If only the family with the three year old hadn't crazily decided this was something they should do together ....
Anyway, as always, some interesting times and experiences at a great Festival.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
From Charleston and Spoleto
And now, from current-time, Kathy and I are on our annual (sixth year, I believe) marathon visit to the always-interesting Spoleto and Piccolo Spoleto festival events in the charming town of Charleston, S.C. We usually try to cram in as much as we can during a weekend, almost always Memorial Day weekend, and this year is no exception.
We drove into town on Saturday, checked into the hotel, and immediately left for Mount Pleasant and a production about the musical life of Bobby Darin. There was much to be liked about the production, especially the singing/interpretation of the lead actor (playing Bobby) and the great band they seem to be able to assemble at the Village Playhouse for these events (not our first time there). However, being what we are, we spent the drive back into town dissecting what we would change about the show if WE were doing it. There were only two actors on stage, and "Bobby" also ended up telling a lot of the biography. We'd have put a third actor on stage and just let Bobby be Bobby throughout. And a few other nitpicky things. But when the music was cooking, this was a lot of fun to watch.
We returned and quickly went off to our next show, a production of "La Cage aux Folles." It had its moments. Just not enough. A few of the voices/actors left something to be desired, and they should have hired a choreographer. (Now, there might have BEEN a choreographer, mind you, but they should have hired someone else.) Not very comfortable seats, either, so that made it a bit painful.
We then had our outdoor Jazz performance pushed indoors, and an hour-plus later, by rain. By that time, for better or for worse, we were in a restaurant drinking good wines and eating delicious Italian. We did not make it to the rescheduled jazz show. Ah, well. We had fun anyway (and the rain stopped until about 3 a.m., of course.)
More to come!
We drove into town on Saturday, checked into the hotel, and immediately left for Mount Pleasant and a production about the musical life of Bobby Darin. There was much to be liked about the production, especially the singing/interpretation of the lead actor (playing Bobby) and the great band they seem to be able to assemble at the Village Playhouse for these events (not our first time there). However, being what we are, we spent the drive back into town dissecting what we would change about the show if WE were doing it. There were only two actors on stage, and "Bobby" also ended up telling a lot of the biography. We'd have put a third actor on stage and just let Bobby be Bobby throughout. And a few other nitpicky things. But when the music was cooking, this was a lot of fun to watch.
We returned and quickly went off to our next show, a production of "La Cage aux Folles." It had its moments. Just not enough. A few of the voices/actors left something to be desired, and they should have hired a choreographer. (Now, there might have BEEN a choreographer, mind you, but they should have hired someone else.) Not very comfortable seats, either, so that made it a bit painful.
We then had our outdoor Jazz performance pushed indoors, and an hour-plus later, by rain. By that time, for better or for worse, we were in a restaurant drinking good wines and eating delicious Italian. We did not make it to the rescheduled jazz show. Ah, well. We had fun anyway (and the rain stopped until about 3 a.m., of course.)
More to come!
Update on my own plays
I'll do a quick update on the plays I have written so far, chiefly to the effect that the only news hasn't been positive news, but at least I know ....
One play was submitted for the N.C. New Play Festival, which selects only one play. Mine wasn't it. One play was submitted to an artistic director known by a friend of ours, who might or might not be producing some plays at his center this year; he chose to determine he was not interested. One ten-minute play I wrote and submitted to the Source Festival -- one of some 500-plus that were entered -- was not chosen for the final 18. And one ten-minute play written to a specific theme for an event called the "Seven" (this time, 418 competitors) did not make the Top 22 from which the seven finalists were chosen.
That hasn't stopped finding new or revised places to try to place the play scripts, and there are several other "maybes" that will be answered one way or another by September or so. But for now, no definite productions brewing. Just so you know ....
One play was submitted for the N.C. New Play Festival, which selects only one play. Mine wasn't it. One play was submitted to an artistic director known by a friend of ours, who might or might not be producing some plays at his center this year; he chose to determine he was not interested. One ten-minute play I wrote and submitted to the Source Festival -- one of some 500-plus that were entered -- was not chosen for the final 18. And one ten-minute play written to a specific theme for an event called the "Seven" (this time, 418 competitors) did not make the Top 22 from which the seven finalists were chosen.
That hasn't stopped finding new or revised places to try to place the play scripts, and there are several other "maybes" that will be answered one way or another by September or so. But for now, no definite productions brewing. Just so you know ....
Catching up
Not least because we've been seeing a lot of plays, I haven't had much time for catching up and reporting on the ones we HAVE seen. So I'll try to do some of that today.
Since returning from the Big Apple and Memorial Day weekend, we caught three different plays in our own back yard. First was "The Importance of Being Earnest" at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, a place we return to often when we get the chance. There is almost always something interesting on stage at UNCSA, especially during the late fall, February-early March, or late April - into May, the times when productions are ready to be staged within the school's calendar year. Although tough times for everyone caused some budget cutbacks this year, there were no disappointments with this production or the earlier Timberlake Wertenbaker play we saw on campus. It continues to be surprising to me that low-cost, high-quality shows on this school's stages continue to be under-attended by the area community.
The very next night we were off to catch N.C. Black Rep's production of "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope," which had some dazzling talents on stage for a relatively short run at the Arts Council Theatre. A lot of energy, chiefly well presented, though like other shows of this sort, sometimes the disconnected stories can be a little disjointed as well, for me, anyway. It was time very well spent in any case.
Last but not least in our local show-going was "The Blonde, the Brunette, and the Vengeful Redhead," a one-woman show at Triad Stage that I thought quite impressive for the range of characters, male and female, that the actress presented. The show was interesting too, though perhaps more interesting to me than to Kathy (maybe it had been too long a day for her). Set, lighting and sound, as usual for a Triad Stage production, were very well done, and generally speaking, it was a pleasant and rewarding evening of theater.
Since returning from the Big Apple and Memorial Day weekend, we caught three different plays in our own back yard. First was "The Importance of Being Earnest" at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, a place we return to often when we get the chance. There is almost always something interesting on stage at UNCSA, especially during the late fall, February-early March, or late April - into May, the times when productions are ready to be staged within the school's calendar year. Although tough times for everyone caused some budget cutbacks this year, there were no disappointments with this production or the earlier Timberlake Wertenbaker play we saw on campus. It continues to be surprising to me that low-cost, high-quality shows on this school's stages continue to be under-attended by the area community.
The very next night we were off to catch N.C. Black Rep's production of "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope," which had some dazzling talents on stage for a relatively short run at the Arts Council Theatre. A lot of energy, chiefly well presented, though like other shows of this sort, sometimes the disconnected stories can be a little disjointed as well, for me, anyway. It was time very well spent in any case.
Last but not least in our local show-going was "The Blonde, the Brunette, and the Vengeful Redhead," a one-woman show at Triad Stage that I thought quite impressive for the range of characters, male and female, that the actress presented. The show was interesting too, though perhaps more interesting to me than to Kathy (maybe it had been too long a day for her). Set, lighting and sound, as usual for a Triad Stage production, were very well done, and generally speaking, it was a pleasant and rewarding evening of theater.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
New York City, Part Two
We wrapped up our visit to NYC and Broadway with three more plays, all interesting or at least worth seeing to one extent or another.
First, Kathy returned with TKTS tickets to "Joe Turner's Come and Gone," one of August Wilson's ten plays from the cycle set in Pittsburgh's Hill District. It was quite well acted, and generally very interesting, but at the end it got all kind of metaphysical/ theological/mystical on us, and I lost track of it. I'm sure it meant something to some of the members of the audience. Not so for me.
We had the added bonus here of sitting next to a couple who, it turned out, were from Winston-Salem, and he had been the head of the theater department at Wake Forest for over 30 years, prior to retiring about a decade back. Delightful conversation during the breaks!
On Saturday, we took in "Exit the King" (Eugene Ionesco) and wrapped with "The 39 Steps." Ionesco was perhaps a little too deep for the likes of me, though the performances, esp. Geoffrey Rush as the 400-year-old king who was on his way out from his collapsing kingdom, were worthy. "39 Steps" was just pure fun -- very clever staging and use of only four actors to presesnt a complete story based on the Hitchcock movie of the same name. It had at least one of those scenes where a character is juggling three hats and passing them around from his head to portray three different people in the same space of time. For entertainment that doesn't really require a lot of thinking but you can be charmed by the cleverness, I recommend it!
Then it was back home to Kernersville, though we did get to see and share some of the LaGuardia space with musician Bruce Hornsby, one of our favorites -- just happened to notice him coming through security right behind us, then waiting for the flight to Richmond, Va. adjacent to where we waited for ours to Greensboro.
Great trip all the way around!
First, Kathy returned with TKTS tickets to "Joe Turner's Come and Gone," one of August Wilson's ten plays from the cycle set in Pittsburgh's Hill District. It was quite well acted, and generally very interesting, but at the end it got all kind of metaphysical/ theological/mystical on us, and I lost track of it. I'm sure it meant something to some of the members of the audience. Not so for me.
We had the added bonus here of sitting next to a couple who, it turned out, were from Winston-Salem, and he had been the head of the theater department at Wake Forest for over 30 years, prior to retiring about a decade back. Delightful conversation during the breaks!
On Saturday, we took in "Exit the King" (Eugene Ionesco) and wrapped with "The 39 Steps." Ionesco was perhaps a little too deep for the likes of me, though the performances, esp. Geoffrey Rush as the 400-year-old king who was on his way out from his collapsing kingdom, were worthy. "39 Steps" was just pure fun -- very clever staging and use of only four actors to presesnt a complete story based on the Hitchcock movie of the same name. It had at least one of those scenes where a character is juggling three hats and passing them around from his head to portray three different people in the same space of time. For entertainment that doesn't really require a lot of thinking but you can be charmed by the cleverness, I recommend it!
Then it was back home to Kernersville, though we did get to see and share some of the LaGuardia space with musician Bruce Hornsby, one of our favorites -- just happened to notice him coming through security right behind us, then waiting for the flight to Richmond, Va. adjacent to where we waited for ours to Greensboro.
Great trip all the way around!
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