Comments on: Riding the Bull http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/07/12/riding-the-bull/ Washington DC's Liveliest Theater Website Sat, 26 May 2012 05:10:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: J. McCool http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/07/12/riding-the-bull/comment-page-1/#comment-9480 J. McCool Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:34:28 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=7654#comment-9480 Hi guys, Thanks so much for all your coverage and for coming to see our show. May I ask, however, why RIDING THE BULL isn't listed as an voting option for "favorite play?" I've had a few people ask me this and I'm not sure myself. (I realize 2-person shows don't tend to win these things over plays with large casts anyway, but I'm not sure why we're not even listed.) We sold out 3 of our 4 shows - the only one that didn't sell out was the early afternoon after our opening night - we were selected as an "Editors' Pick" by the Washington Post, were listed as one of "4 Must-See Fringe Shows" by DCist - in fact, this DCTS ("4 out of 5") review was the closest we came to anything resembling lukewarm press. We were all extremely happy with what we pulled off with this collaboration - a labor of love, really. Anyway, just wondering! Thanks again, Jason http://www.ridingthebulldc.com/press%20page.html Hi guys,

Thanks so much for all your coverage and for coming to see our show. May I ask, however, why RIDING THE BULL isn’t listed as an voting option for “favorite play?” I’ve had a few people ask me this and I’m not sure myself. (I realize 2-person shows don’t tend to win these things over plays with large casts anyway, but I’m not sure why we’re not even listed.)

We sold out 3 of our 4 shows – the only one that didn’t sell out was the early afternoon after our opening night – we were selected as an “Editors’ Pick” by the Washington Post, were listed as one of “4 Must-See Fringe Shows” by DCist – in fact, this DCTS (“4 out of 5″) review was the closest we came to anything resembling lukewarm press. We were all extremely happy with what we pulled off with this collaboration – a labor of love, really.

Anyway, just wondering!

Thanks again,
Jason
http://www.ridingthebulldc.com/press%20page.html

]]> By: Michael B. http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/07/12/riding-the-bull/comment-page-1/#comment-9457 Michael B. Sun, 26 Jul 2009 06:47:44 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=7654#comment-9457 A funny, sad character comedy, acted well, paced well, AND using a banjo player. Unlike the reviewer, I had no difficulty with the minimal set pieces. The banjo during the show was subtle, and probably could have been put to better use. The performances were exceptionally good, taking a script that could leave you unmoved by the caricatures- the religious,naive dumb guy, the overweight, smart-ass woman- and making these people both believable and sympathetic. The abrupt change in tone, from comedy to tragedy, is not as jarring as one might expect, and the contrast only heightens the tension during the final moments of the show. A funny, sad character comedy, acted well, paced well, AND using a banjo player. Unlike the reviewer, I had no difficulty with the minimal set pieces. The banjo during the show was subtle, and probably could have been put to better use. The performances were exceptionally good, taking a script that could leave you unmoved by the caricatures- the religious,naive dumb guy, the overweight, smart-ass woman- and making these people both believable and sympathetic. The abrupt change in tone, from comedy to tragedy, is not as jarring as one might expect, and the contrast only heightens the tension during the final moments of the show.

]]> By: Karen Shod http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/07/12/riding-the-bull/comment-page-1/#comment-9210 Karen Shod Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:51:02 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=7654#comment-9210 Fine actors Kate Debelack [title character in Studio Th’s Fat Pig] and Jason McCool [title character in Forum Th.’s The Last Days of Judas Iscariot], and director Colin Hovde earned it a spot on my A-list of shows to see. And they fulfilled the promise. Wonderfully acted & directed, this insightful, hilarious, moving ‘dramedy’ reeled us in with guffaws, then stealthily moved many to tears. At the perf. I saw, the prevailing sentiment of the audience was clearly empathy with these deeply human characters. Curtis Eller ("NYC's angriest yodeling banjo player!") singing & playing his original compositions certainly adds to this DC production. In addition to his music, Curtis’ offbeat persona is uncannily appropriate for this play. Only one more perf: Sat. 7/25 @ 6:45. Fine actors Kate Debelack [title character in Studio Th’s Fat Pig] and Jason McCool [title character in Forum Th.’s The Last Days of Judas Iscariot], and director Colin Hovde earned it a spot on my A-list of shows to see. And they fulfilled the promise. Wonderfully acted & directed, this insightful, hilarious, moving ‘dramedy’ reeled us in with guffaws, then stealthily moved many to tears. At the perf. I saw, the prevailing sentiment of the audience was clearly empathy with these deeply human characters.
Curtis Eller (“NYC’s angriest yodeling banjo player!”) singing & playing his original compositions certainly adds to this DC production. In addition to his music, Curtis’ offbeat persona is uncannily appropriate for this play.
Only one more perf: Sat. 7/25 @ 6:45.

]]> By: J. McCool http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/07/12/riding-the-bull/comment-page-1/#comment-9146 J. McCool Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:58:12 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=7654#comment-9146 Folks, Nothing gets people's attention like FREE BOOZE... coupled with award winning* theater! After a sold-out opening, RIDING THE BULL will pick up again this Saturday morning @ 11am, sponsored by DC's Austin Grill. The first 25 entrants to the Bodega will receive a coupon for a free margarita at Austin Grill. 15% off an entire bill is also offered to all ticket holders. *RTB won the coveted "Audience Favorite Award" at the 2007 NYC Fringe Festival. purchase tickets online at: http://shows.capfringe.org/shows/57-Riot-Actors-of-Washington-Riding-the-Bull.html RECENT PRESS: "...when acting is top-notch, there is no better joy." "...like taking Hepburn & Tracy through the looking glass." "...it’s raw and vibrant theater. Two performances left. Definitely worth it." http://www.welovedc.com/2009/07/14/fringe-arts-riding-the-bull/ "Very funny, very good... The Riot Actors are off to a terrific start!" --anonymous audience member Folks,

Nothing gets people’s attention like FREE BOOZE… coupled with award winning* theater! After a sold-out opening, RIDING THE BULL will pick up again this Saturday morning @ 11am, sponsored by DC’s Austin Grill. The first 25 entrants to the Bodega will receive a coupon for a free margarita at Austin Grill. 15% off an entire bill is also offered to all ticket holders.

*RTB won the coveted “Audience Favorite Award” at the 2007 NYC Fringe Festival.

purchase tickets online at:
http://shows.capfringe.org/sho.....-Bull.html

RECENT PRESS:
“…when acting is top-notch, there is no better joy.”

“…like taking Hepburn & Tracy through the looking glass.”

“…it’s raw and vibrant theater. Two performances left. Definitely worth it.”

http://www.welovedc.com/2009/0.....-the-bull/

“Very funny, very good…
The Riot Actors are off to a terrific start!”
–anonymous audience member

]]> By: Gregory Ford http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/07/12/riding-the-bull/comment-page-1/#comment-9119 Gregory Ford Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:51:29 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=7654#comment-9119 I thought it was hilarious, pathos-filled (not pathetic) and well performed. I was fascinated by the false definition of masculinity by which the male defines himself (He's a white, sexist pig, in 1960s parlance and has no awareness whatsoever of any faults in that definition of oneself. And he is somewhat effeminate and unable to live up to the image of masculinity he holds in his head.) That false definition of masculinity leads to him to harm himself and others and keeps him trapped in his loneliness. I thought it was hilarious, pathos-filled (not pathetic) and well performed. I was fascinated by the false definition of masculinity by which the male defines himself (He’s a white, sexist pig, in 1960s parlance and has no awareness whatsoever of any faults in that definition of oneself. And he is somewhat effeminate and unable to live up to the image of masculinity he holds in his head.) That false definition of masculinity leads to him to harm himself and others and keeps him trapped in his loneliness.

]]> By: Michael http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/07/12/riding-the-bull/comment-page-1/#comment-9088 Michael Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:48:07 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=7654#comment-9088 Ugh. The banjo playing is what intrigued me, too. Too bad that he has little more to do with the play than the prelude. The rest of the show he just sits on the side of the stage, looking vacant. And it's too bad the show itself doesn't redeem the notably silent banjo player. Dumb, Jesus lovin' hick from Texas can't stop masturbating until he meets the fat girl of his dreams. There were some slightly entertaining moments, but the story just doesn't make me care about any of the characters (or Elvis, or the male lead's mother whom we never see). I won't reveal the moral of the story for whoever actually wants to see this play, but suffice to say that it's not terribly profound. The acting was very good, but couldn't save us from a trite script. Ugh. The banjo playing is what intrigued me, too. Too bad that he has little more to do with the play than the prelude. The rest of the show he just sits on the side of the stage, looking vacant.

And it’s too bad the show itself doesn’t redeem the notably silent banjo player. Dumb, Jesus lovin’ hick from Texas can’t stop masturbating until he meets the fat girl of his dreams. There were some slightly entertaining moments, but the story just doesn’t make me care about any of the characters (or Elvis, or the male lead’s mother whom we never see).

I won’t reveal the moral of the story for whoever actually wants to see this play, but suffice to say that it’s not terribly profound.

The acting was very good, but couldn’t save us from a trite script.

]]>