I Love the Interwebs! And They Love Us

So when the print press doesn't particularly care for the art you make tunr to the internet for the love you feel your cast, director and playwright richly deserve. I already told you about the love that Tim over at DC Theatre scene sent our way. Now I get to mention the love we get from Brad Hathaway over at Potomac Stages.

Oh, but when it is high, the pleasure level of this production is sky high and it never is less than interesting as it works its way through a modern writer's speculations on the mysteries surrounding the short life and violent death of the man who may have passed on the concept of the history play to Shakespeare who gave us all those Henrys and Richards. Bringing the swashbuckling adventurer to lusty life is Adam Jonas Segaller, who makes his Potomac Region debut in a most memorable way, bursting on stage stark naked and dripping wet, swinging from a rope fresh from a dip in the foul, fetid Thames.

Brad has love to spread around and if he has reservations they are not about the production. He also gives a special holler out for the copious amounts of blood, saying:

There's no specific credit in the program for special effect but someone should take a bow for the effectiveness of the blood-letting scenes which take the concept of "signing in blood" to a new level.

Read the rest of the review here.

Kit Marlowe continues this weekend with shows tonight and tomorrow at 8pm. Get your tickets now.

The Free Press

Let's try this again. Above is a bit about the birds from Jolene Munch at The Examiner. She saw the show on Saturday and in the Weekend Section of The Examiner she has made birds her #1 pick for best theater in DC. While the review is short and sweet, her final sentence sums it all up:

Wendy McClellan directs a gallant cast who deliver Maisel's stunning revelation in a production that demands we forget about living happily ever after.

There is also some nice words from our friends over at The Express (The Washington Posts free daily). Erin Trompeter writes:

Those on the aisle be warned: You may be propositioned.

Here is the link to the whole shabang but you might want to pick one up yourself.

Yesterday there was a nice piece in the Back Stage Column of the Post. Jane Horwitz spoke to both birds playwright Jennifer Maisel and director Wendy McClellan. Here is the link (be sure to scroll down past the stuff about Olney and Jimmy P.) and here is my favorite quote from Jennifer:

The Los Angeles-based Maisel, whose "The Last Seder" was produced at Theater J in 2003, says one of the themes is making connections across class chasms -- "you see the homeless person and say, 'That was someone's baby.' "

What else we got you may ask yourself?

There are two mixed reviews from Potomac Stages and the newly rechristened DC Theatre Scene.

It is Hemmingsen, however, that takes possession of the stage each time he's on it. He's a homeless man with a surplus of common sense and a touch of magic of his own. When Valentiner donates one of three of her boyfriend's overcoats to the homeless man she sees on a bench every day, he begins a transformation into a sartorially splendid, suave man about town. Through it all, he remains fascinating to watch. -Brad Hathway- Potomac Stages

Enter a menacing but friendly ogre, in the form of a homeless man, Gus, (Brian Hemmingsen). Along with the prostitute, A, (Marissa Molnar), who hustles a stranger in the audience, these two street characters seem to have a better grip on the real world than do our hero and heroine, living in a high-rise dream. Maybe all four characters are one and the same? Jorie tells us she feels dislocated and bought, just as A does. James is jobless; Gus is homeless. Aware of their sameness, Jorie and James throw a cocktail party, invite and share their lives with A and Gus, who allows his hair to be cut and dresses up in a business suit. In the play’s best moments, the four characters swap roles and interact as if they accept their oneness as a family and the city as home. - Rosalind Lacy - DC Theatre Scene

I will continue to bring you the words of the critics and Rorschach fans alike here on the blog.
Do you agree with the reviews or do you have an opinion of your own. Tell me what you think about birds. Email me here and we can talk.

Sincerely,
Scott "The Mad Blogger What Blogs at Midnight" McCormick

Brisk Baby!

I am very happy to report that ticket sales of Rough Magic are brisk. Some shows are already filling up and those are just the ones later in the run. If I might suggest the following to those of you who usually wait until the last weekend to come and see the show, either make your reservations now, or come early. We would love to see you.

Finishing up our tour of what the world is saying about Rough Magic, we turn our attention to DC Theatre Reviews and what reviewer Gary McMillan has to say:

Rough Magic is a silly, pop culture confection for literature lovers.

Well yes it can be a rather silly place at Casa and pop culture is not a slam in my opinion and anything good for literature lovers is good in my book, so thanks Gary. Here is the rest of the review if you are interested. Be prepared to be confronted by the scary shot of Drag-Grady when you click the link. Just thought I would warn you.

Brad Hathaway over at Potomac Stages has a hard time finding anything really nice to say about the show. What can you do? Try to please everyone and you please no one, so there will always be those who don't like what you are selling. Here is the link for the curious.

Tomorrow, we get some outside help.

Ask Bobby Rector and Potomac Lovin'

Bobby Rector is on the block today in this edition of Ask the Cast. However before we get to know this man who puts the Monster in Monster (or does he? Discuss!), we have some more internet love to share from Brad Hathaway at Potomac Stages.

Brad says:

Each of the characters, if you will pardon the expression, comes to life in a production that feels smoothly created, not at all like the haphazard patch job that is the central character pieced together from spare parts by the good (?) doctor. That patch job is the most fun of the piece, however, as Robert Rector takes us through the evolution of the creature's consciousness of self. -Potomac Stages

I think we can pardon the pun, Brad. If you want to read the whole review follow this link.

Now on to the man of many parts (and I ask for no forgivness for my puns because they are good) Robert "Bobby" Rector. Bobby has been getting some excellent notice for his portrayl of Dr. F's creation. His physical work is outstanding and you are drawn and repelled by his creature at the same time. Here he answers the questions put to him by Jason Linkins:

1. Where are you from, originally?

Vienna, VA

2. Where did you go to school?

George Mason University

3. What is the last book you read for fun?

1984 by George Orwell

4. When you first learned that you would be working on MONSTER, what was the first thought that crossed your mind?

Does this mean I have to wear bolts in my neck?

5. If you could reanimate anyone, who would it be and why?

What Jeremy said.

6. As a kid, what was your favorite Halloween candy?

Three Musketeers.

7. What tune is going on your "Awesome MixTape 2006."?

Anything that is NOT played on 99.5.

8. What story of primal horror would you like to see Rorschach stage next year?

Monster II, in which Frankenstein creates another monster to fight the first, but they end up teaming together to kill...his pets, I guess at this point.

9. What are your words to live by?

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
- Mahatma Gandhi

10. I'm going to quote you out of context. Okay? Go.

Holler at your boy...when you...see... him in the street.

11. What's something you do in every show to maximize the audience's fear?

I kill most of the other characters.

12. Why DID Victor give the Creature a [REDACTED]?

Let's just be glad he gave him a REDACTED and not a REDACTED.