Park Square Theatre

Kit Mayers’ inspiration for bringing Martha’s...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:24:39 -0500

Kit Mayers’ inspiration for bringing Martha’s Vinyard to the stage!

A Fly on the Wall: Insights from the rehearsal hall

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:53:20 -0500

By Jamil Jude, Assistant Director

Today the first preview performance of STICK FLY, I wanted to take a quick moment to reflect on this process and the journey of bringing this play to the Park Square stage

Table Work

One of the greatest pleasures of working with Marion McClinton is seeing him work with actors around the table. For those of you unfamiliar to the play-making process, table work is usually done in the first day of rehearsals. It is an opportunity for the actors to read the play and ask questions about the text, their characters, their relationships, and it’s a time where the director begins to unfold his vision for the show. What makes table work with Marion so rewarding is that he doesn’t rush the table work. He allows his actors to take their time and really learn as much as they can about their parts as possible before moving on. By doing that, he allows each actor to root themselves in the truth of their own experiences and positions the actor to have an open and honest relationship to their character. I always walk away from table work with Marion learning something new about the play I didn’t pick up from reading it by myself and I’m inspired to incorporate that way of working into my own process.

The heart of Lydia’s play

Unlike most people inside the rehearsal hall, I had the privilege to see multiple versions of Lydia Diamond’s play before our production here at Park Square. Those productions focused in on the comedy in the writing. What I have noticed about our production is that we aren’t relying on the comedy to tell the story. The comedy is there but the relationships between the characters are what carry this play. I get lost in the relationship between Tracey Mahoney (Kimber) and Darius Dotch (Flip). They try to convince themselves that they’re just having fun, but when they let their guards down, they realize how much they love one another. I love watching James Williams (Dr. LeVay) and his “tough love” approach to raising his children. I enjoy the unease Traci Allen (Taylor) feels as she goes out her way to impress her fiancé’s family. Character relationships are what moving drama is all about and this play is no different. At the heart of Lydia’s play is a family, unlike any family we’ve seen on the American stage before. They are Black, they are affluent, they love one another but they aren’t perfect. You are going to thoroughly enjoy soaking up the relationships in this one!

Preparing for previews

We were in for a treat when we moved rehearsals upstairs to the stage. The set is gorgeous! Tall walls, beautiful art work, plush furniture. It looks as if Kit Mayer and his team picked up a house from Martha’s Vineyard and dropped it right on the Park Square stage! Small pieces continue to arrive daily and the actors are doing a swell job incorporating the additions into their work. Throughout this process they have taken on the challenges this play offers. It is not easy. Lydia Diamond is an amazingly talented writer and her work pushes all involved (actors, designers, directors, and audiences) to challenge their understanding of race, class, and family.

The STICK FLY team is ready to show the St. Paul-Minneapolis community what we’ve been working on. Hope to see you there!

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Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:53:38 -0500

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Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:29:13 -0500

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Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:18:30 -0500

"OR is an incredibly adroit script, bridging the gap between being a modern and relevant play yet..."

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:39:46 -0600

“OR is an incredibly adroit script, bridging the gap between being a modern and relevant play yet written in the literary style of the Restoration.”

- “OR is an incredibly adroit script, bridging the gap between being a modern and relevant play yet written in the literary style of the Restoration. It was given a wonderful production, elevated to great heights thanks to the trenchant and utterly believable, while high-style performance of Emily Gunyou Halaas, and the incredible acting dexterity of Matt Guidry and Mo Perry, who play three roles each. Mo added a kind volcanic power to her remarkable changes of character which, under the razor-sharp direction of Leah Cooper, produced a distinctly “run do not walk to the ticket sellers” production which should not be missed.”

best,
John Fenn

"We LOVED “OR”! It was just plain old fun to see a wacky comic/melodrama at Park Square."

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:39:02 -0600

““We LOVED “OR”! It was just plain old fun to see a wacky comic/melodrama at Park Square.””

- We LOVED “OR”! It was just plain old fun to see a wacky comic/melodrama at Park Square.

Emily Gunyou Halaas has the stage presence of a much more seasoned actress.
Her gestures were many and so natural to her conversations. She is really a wonderful actress! We were very happy to see her as the main character this time, though she always adds to the enjoyment of any play if she is part of a company of good actors.We try to see her wherever she appears.

Mo Perry is a delightful character actor. She actually BECAME the other characters with no “left over” from the one before. Of course, she stole the show as the maid; she even moved funny.

And Matt Guidry….how did he do it? The costume and character changes were magical. What fun he must have had…and his dresser backstage!

It was surprising to hear terms like “knocked up” in a period play. But when one understood it’s farcial nature, those naughty terms were just hilarious.

As for parallels between the 1660’s and 1960’s; they were a time when some brave women broke out from the tyranny of men in power and pursued choices traditionally closed to them, to the chagrin of traditionalists of both sexes. They just proclaimed, “to hell with them”, but they had to work harder than anybody. I think the playwright certainly made her point.

Angie Robson

"Or” at Park Square Theatre presents us with lots of alternatives. It’s an intriguing..."

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:38:00 -0600

““Or” at Park Square Theatre presents us with lots of alternatives. It’s an intriguing show set in Restoration England, with three engaging actors playing seven characters who attract and repel each other in sexual and life-altering ways. There is plenty of adult language and erotic themes with gay and straight pairings, men in masks, women in pantaloons, blackmail, murder plots and spy skullduggery.””

- Renee Valois, Pioneer Press

www.twincities.com/stage/ci_22709291/or-review-park-square-play-might-offend-entertain

"The period costumes by Annie Cady are gorgeous, from Nell’s smart and boyish pants, to the..."

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:36:00 -0600

““The period costumes by Annie Cady are gorgeous, from Nell’s smart and boyish pants, to the king’s beautiful coat, to Aphra’s elaborate dresses.””

- Jill - Cherry and Spoon

www.cherryandspoon.com/2013/03/or-at-park-square-theatre.html

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Thu, 28 Feb 2013 08:34:53 -0600

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Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:35:00 -0600

Costumes for Or, by Annie Cady

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:56:17 -0600

Costumes for Or, by Annie Cady

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Fri, 22 Feb 2013 10:16:07 -0600

"A playful, funny and inventive comedy. A frisky historical romp."

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:42:58 -0600

“A playful, funny and inventive comedy. A frisky historical romp.”

- The New York Times on Liz Duffy Adams’ Or,

“Spy or poetess, actress or whoreMale or female, straight or...

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:41:06 -0600

“Spy or poetess, actress or whore
Male or female, straight or gay—or both
Wrong or righteous, treacherous or true
Lust or love, cheap hackney trash or art
Now or then…” ~Prologue

Happy Birthday Babe!

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:21:07 -0600

Happy Birthday Babe!