Writer’s choice: Page-to-Stage readings from Saturday, September 3, 2016.
We asked our writers to report back on plays which they would like to see fully staged.
From Debbie Jackson
Crazy Mary Lincoln
Written by Jan Tranen & Jay Schwandt
Directed by Tracey Elaine Chessum
Hanging out at the Kennedy Center for ten-hours of Page-to-Stage didn’t feel like a slug-fest at all enjoying the three terrific readings I attended. As a Lincoln enthusiast, I was of course “committed” to catching Crazy Mary Lincoln, a musical about the emotional foibles of Mary Todd Lincoln. While I’ve enjoyed the various plays, musicals and stories about her throughout the theaters and venues in town, this piece focused on her strength of character while mindful of the major flaws that made her a tabloid favorite in her day.
Was she really that loony? Enough to warrant being institutionalized? With the clear consent of her eldest son? There’s something about Mary, sure – the records are clear about that. But the musical also sheds light on how the reduced role of women in society may have contributed to mishandling a ferociously strong woman who clawed her way through life –dressed in the best, and daring to live life her way. The songs and lyrics swelled and boomed with regal flair, touching interludes, and cute ditty passages along the way to effectively tell the story. Still in workshop status, the musical is well on its way to a successful production next year via Pallas Theater, known for their incubating space in nurturing new work.
Over Her Dead Body
Written by John Bavoso with Seth Alcorn, Karen Lange, Kenny Neal, and Brittany Alyse Willis
Directed by Ryan Maxwell
Over Her Dead Body is a Pinky Swear collection of ballads of death and malicious behavior in the name of love. Oh what a scary treat. The bluegrass band and soaring voices helped to ease the pain and sometimes sickening imagery depicted in the songs. Murder and mayhem are real and death is alive and well in the stories that often come from depths of history. One was deeply rooted as an old English tale that morphed into an Irish ballad before migrating over to the Appalachian hills to be served up as blue grass. Women in the loving arms of men are not safe from being turned on, stabbed, shot, decapitated, and thrown in the river.
In true Pinky Swear experience, the chuckles are as solid as the terrific artistry that churned out the emotional passages with gorgeous voices, expressions and instrumentals. The talented ensemble includes a tall good-looking fellow with a Will Rogers swagger and engaging voice and demeanor—the bouncy quartet kept hope alive despite the gore and bloody carnage in the songs. This Fringe Festival favorite was filled to capacity, but enjoy at your leisure in the Millennium Stage archives.
More Than a Mouthful…
Short Plays
Written and Directed by Alan Sharpe
African-American Collective Theater (ACT)
Finally, I was determined to venture into the evening to catch More Than a Mouthful, a collection of original pieces by Alan Sharpe as part of his African-American Collective Theater, and just as I figured, he was well worth the wait. His tantalizingly provocative titles target a specific community, true, but his messages are so filled with hope, humanity and honest human relationships that mainstream audiences should take a seat at the table and enjoy. For example, Sex/Toys – hmm, anyone backing away would miss the insightful deliberations between two male parents as to what kind of gender-based toys to buy their toddler for his birthday.
The opening piece “Imperial We” rivals any hilarious episode of “Vicious,” and old school performers Michael Sainte-Andress and Talmach White could out-snipe Sirs Jacobi and McKellen any day. Sharpe’s plays are universal in covering the human dynamics, relationships, and foibles, love, distrust, viciousness — all in the relationships of the community that has traditionally been marginalized, shunned and silent. Actually, in the quarter-century of his artistry, the term has expanded from simply and singularly “Gay” to include the lesbian community, bi-sexual, and the latest—“Trans” – and Alan’s pieces have included all, before the terms hit the major press. His piercingly honest portrayal of intimate issues are depicted with compassion, care, gut-busting laughter and an occasional shed tear. His heart is apparently large enough to include us all.
Hats off and a hearty congratulations to Alan Sharpe — here’s hoping that the artistic expression and soaring voices of the “community” that he orchestrated all those years ago continues for decades to come.
from Sarah Scafidi
Over Her Dead Body
Written by John Bavoso with Seth Alcorn, Karen Lange, Kenny Neal, and Brittany Alyse Willis
Directed by Ryan Maxwell
Thank you so much for the wonderful comments about Over Her Dead Body! One correction on the playwrights: the play was actually written by Jihn Bavoso with Seth Alcorn, Karen Lange, Kenny Neal, and Brittany Alyse Willis. Thank you!