Press Round Up

Well, it’s 3 months later and I’ve had a moment to pause and enjoy my successes, learn from my mistakes, and take the stress and strain in stride. One of the most interesting things about the experience was the WIDE range of attitudes toward the play. In the press, I had one very negative review, one very positive review, and one… uh… review? (Well, I’ll leave the editorializing to the critics.)

More interesting than the critical response was the response from the audience – equally torn. There were those who LOVED it, who really connected with the language or the universality of the characters. There were those that were offended by the theatrical conceits and highfalutin vocabulary. (And then there were my friends who politely ascribed to the “I had no idea what was going on but thought you did a wonderful job” philosophy.) Either way, I was proud of my cast for really embracing the language and quirks of the script and really, openly experimenting.

I did, however, want to recap the press from the show.

My interview with Nicholas Gilewicz from the Fringe Office

City Paper’s Best of the Fest Preview

Mark Cofta’s review of this “enthralling production”

Wendy Rosenfield was less than impressed

Jim Rutter is a man’s man… which is all I learned from this review

I Survived Opening Night

…and all you get is this lousy blog post!

Yesterday was truly a marathon. Between trying to finish the set, running errands on all corners of the city, laying cables and putting out last minute fires, I almost forgot how much fun it is to make theatre.

But it all happened – the play went up, only a few minor snafu’s (the kind for which most of the audience wasn’t even aware), and we’ve come out on the other side with a play I’m quite proud of.

For those of you who get a chance, we are running for 7 more performances (tonight at 6:30 being the next.)

And check out my interview for the Philly Fringe Blog. Definitely one of the more surreal experiences I’ve had – to be interviewed and quoted. My favorite part, on stage managing: “It let me gain the trust of talented people without risking directing.” HA! Both true and embarrassing. I guess I can no longer say I’m not “risking directing!”

Hair Acting

Goofing around with the camera during tech: priceless.

Best of the Fest, no jest.

Nuda Veritas has been selected as one of the “50 Reasons to Dive into the Fringe,” according to Mr. Mark Cofta at the Citypaper.

“Somewhere between sleep and awake,” four women in white pajamas seek answers (“nuda veritas” is Latin for “the naked truth”) that elude them, exploring memories of love, lust and heartache. And what a terrific cast — Melissa Lynch, Laurie Norton, Christie Parker and Barrymore Award-winner Charlotte Northeast. Inspired by an ethereal Gustav Klimt painting in which a naked woman holds an empty mirror up toward the viewer, Melissa James Gibson’s Nuda Veritas asks, What do we see in the mirror: the truth, merely our own image — or both?

—Mark Cofta

Bios: Round Two

Christie Parker (Inez) is having a wonderful time with these amazing women! She was last seen at Act II Playhouse in Magnetic North playing the character Mara. Other credits include The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre in Pericles (Thaisa). She has also been seen there playing Desdemona in Othello for which she received a Barrymore Nomination for Best Actress. Other credits in Philadelphia include: Pig Iron’s Mission to Mercury, (2006 Barrymore for “Best Ensemble in a Musical”). The Arden Theater’s production of Proof (2004 Best Supporting Actress Nominee), The Lantern Theater’s The Comedy of Errors (Barrymore for “Best Ensemble 2004), Brat production’s The Designated Mourner, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Theater Exile’s production of Princess Ivona. Thanks to Natalie, and all of these delightful women for their talent, laughs and creativity. To everyone involved… I have had a blast!

Melissa Lynch (Merle) local credits include Agnes of God, Breathing Corpses, Monster, & Hot n’ Throbbing with Luna Theater Co, Simpatico’s Getting Out, Azuka’s Sweetie Pie, BCKSEET’s 8 Reindeer Monos., Phila. Shakes. Festival’s Two Gentlemen of Verona, Phila. Irish Rep.’s Playboy of the Western World & Shadow of a Gunman and Inis Nua’s Skin Deep. She is also working on 4play & Superheros who are Super! for the fringe. Up next: BOOM! with Flashpoint. For Dave, forever etched in memory.

Bios: Round One

Charlotte Northeast (Sonya): A native of Victoria, B.C., Charlotte is a graduate of Circle in the Square Theatre School. Favorite roles include Juliet (American Stage), Catherine (u/s perf.) in Proof (FST), and Lady Macbeth (Shakespeare on the Hudson). Philadelphia and New Jersey area: Hate Mail and Street of Useful Things (Act II Playhouse), Game of Love & Chance and Love’s Labor’s Lost (CCTC), Fat Pig (GreenLight), Tape (TOW Theatre), Proof (Act Out Theatre), Bash (Crooked Mirror), Bug (Theatre Exile) and Chicken (New City Stage). Charlotte has worked with Passage Theatre for the State Street Project and the Playwriting Lab. She received a Barrymore for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her work in Skin in Flames at InterAct. Love to Damon and pugs, Humphrey and Chico. Please visit: www.charlottenortheast.net

Laurie Norton (Nell) was seen last year at the Philly Fringe in A Streetcar Named Durang. Before that, at the NYC Fringe in The Suffrajets Present a Musical Seance, a musical she co-created about suffragist, spiritualist and presidential candidate Victoria Woodhull. She has appeared at InterAct (Man Measures Man), the Wilma (The Invention of Love) and was a company member at Iron Age Theatre, appearing in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Simpatico, and 70 Scenes of Halloween. She has an MA in Theatre from Villanova – where she was seen in numerous productions – including Angels in America, for which she received a Barrymore nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress. Laurie lives in South Philly and teaches acting, works in research and is a voiceover artiste. Many thanks to Natalie, the Very Talented Ladies, and Taskmaster Beth – and as always, much love to Jeremy, Viv and the Pupster.

“Where is everyone?”

Marketing and PR.

Can’t forget to do that.