Reviews are in and great, and yet I bet he'll still wipe his feet!

Yes, friends the reviewers like the play, the set, the direction, the closer than front row experience of Rumors. And I bet that won't have any effect on the actors. They will still continue to pinch their cheeks and wipe their feet before they enter their host's home to the mayhem brewing beyond the front door. They are very prepared to deliver a swift funny show and kudos won't change that. Be sure to catch a unique experience before it's gone!

Can you say "sold out"?

Yes friends, the first weekend run of Neil Simon's Rumors was sold out before each performance! Translation: let's make it run longer so everyone can see it! The reason: it is so damned funny. Really funny. Everyone agrees, critic's too! Get your tickets now--so you can laugh yourself silly too.

It looks like happy bedlam!

Look at that picture. It says it all. This is pandemonium at it's best. Clever, witty words delivered by seasoned smart actors. Theatre can be so much fun can't it? Especially good theatre. We've got it, come and see it.

They keep spilling drinks!

That's what I was told. "We need more glasses, ton's more!" The actors go thru a lot of glasses for the show Rumors. Considering there is a joke about every 30 seconds, that isn't too surprising. A joke, a spill, another joke, a spill. Okay, I get it.We need more glasses because this show is chock full of jokes. You gotta come see it.

new director's festival is a hit!

Yup, it was packed last night and the shows went down just swell. Heard good audience feedback was in all the corners. So nice, when something is thought of, worked, and put out before appreciative people and it takes off! Goody-good!-mm

If It's This Funny Now, Will It Explode On Opening Night?

Neil Simon's Rumors is so funny! I can't figure out why I never knew about it before. Or is it so funny because this is a great ensemble of actors. Is it that they, these incredible comedians, have the knowledge to make the most of good writing? They are ripping into this material and creating bits around each joke. It seems they were made for the clever fast paced dialogue and the pratfalls on each page of the script. I'm not sure. Come to the show and help me figure this out. It may just be they are having a lot of fun--and you know how seriously silly things can get when you are having a good time.-mm

Did you hear?

Yes, it's all about Rumors isn't it? The funniest, yes, truly the funniest show. I sat in on a rehearsal and I thought, " I can't stop laughing!". It was strange and wonderful and I knew it was only their fifth rehearsal so you know this thing is going to be hugely funny by time it gets to opening night. All I can say is BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW! They will all be gone very soon. And then you will cry and not laugh.-mm

Did you see what I saw?

Did you see an amazing production of Paula Vogel's "How I Learned To Drive" by the SET Group theatre? I did. Three times. And yes, I was charmed and won over. I went into this production with trepidation over what was in the script. I admit I thought I couldn't watch it, or wouldn't want to watch it. Abuse is never pretty. But what happened was that these actors, under Rod Oden's direction, took this story and brought out the little bright spots that are often stuck in the mire of an ugly situation. The flinty shards of good that Paula Vogel herself found in the awfulness of her life. The bits that are wedged into all life's situations we encounter. I was amazed, it was good, I could gladly sit through it, and I hope I will now rethink my initial reaction to what is put before me. I don't ever want to miss out on something good again. Did you see it? Make sure next time you do.

I'm Sitting Next To You

How I Learned To Drive by Paula Vogel is not a walk in the park. No, it is a full on DRIVE through the mirky twists and turns that traumatic events in life can bring us. Ergo, both my daughter and my sister said to me separately when i told them that they gotta see this show, "I'm sitting next to you."

And that is okay. Because theatre, really good theatre is the experience of all the individual audience members as one. You laugh, it makes me laugh. You cry, I am pulled into that emotional realm likewise, and we both experience something deeper from the production. So, go ahead, sit next to me.

I Caught The Second Half and -WOW!

Okay, I got there on time, but they had started early. So I only saw the second half of the show. I wasn't lost because I had read the play. But yikes, it's kinda scary to walk in on such powerful scenes. The theatre was charged with the kind of frisson caused by an intervention. And it just kept going. And yet through out it was bites of comedy. Clever, clever writing. You have to see this show. Bring a friend, you're going to want to talk about this afterwards. Fascinating things work like that.
See you there.

Interview- Part 1 with Paul Anninos

What interested you in auditioning for this play?

I haven’t acted in a production since 2006. Much of this was due my wife, Missy, and I becoming parents to our daughter, Alexis. During those 4 years, I’ve dabbled in other art forms but was unable to satisfactorily scratch that creative itch, so I made the decision to put my big toe in the water again as an actor. I wasn’t aware that when I auditioned for this production, and subsequently cast as Uncle Peck, a lot more than my big toe was going to get wet.

How will you make character decisions for your role in this play?

I’ll begin with the play itself and see if I can’t find what Paula Vogel wants to say through Uncle Peck. Ultimately, I’m looking forward to collaborating with Rod and my fellow actors on finding the appropriate emotional content and translating that into visual actions and behaviors that will best exhibit Ms. Vogel’s and Rod’s intentions.

I do think that in order for the character and the relationship he has with Lil’ Bit to be accepted as believable, there has to be some kind of balance in the character of Uncle Peck. Yes, he commits the most heinous of abuses (potentially more egregious than murder), but there must be some elements of Peck’s character and the relationship that appeals to Lil’ Bit.

Will there be anything difficult in preparing for this role?

It’s very difficult to delve into the subject of sexual child abuse and the role of Uncle Peck requires that I explore both sides of the issue: as a victim of and, in the context of the play, as an abuser. Ironically, I think that part of Vogel’s intent is call attention to the fact that our inability to confront this kind of abuse individually, within a family unit or as a culture, on some level, propagates the abuse.

There are explicit examples of the abuse that Lil’ Bit endures throughout the play, but with Uncle Peck the only specific indication that the audience gets of his own sexual abuse is at play’s end when Lil’ Bit plainly asks when it happened to him. That required me to enlist my imagination to construct episodes of sexual child abuse that my character undergoes. The experience of imagining such things, knowing that they have and do happen and realizing that they may not, in actuality, be so far outside our lives is chilling and demoralizing.

Stay tuned for Part 2 next week.

If You Build It They Will Come

Ben Garcia, our Set Designer for "How I Learned To Drive", By Paula Vogel, has an interesting take on design. When he starts to think about a set design he doesn't think about the set, the empty set that is, and how he is going to fill it. He thinks about the play, and physically what needs to be there to support the words. Only use what you have to, and support the play. That's kind of like Jenga isn't it? I never have played that kids game but the theory is you play the game by reducing elements down to their bare essentials. No extra fillagree to distract the viewer. I like it.

"They Are One"

I was busy getting a set piece painted early this Sunday morning when Rod Oden, the Director for "How I Learned To Drive" walked in to deliver some more set pieces. We chatted, checked in with each other about the production, when he said an interesting thing. Basically he said, "It is so great, they are one! The cast of this show is so in-sync with each other and have progressed so far already, that they are behaving as a unit." He went on to describe instances where he had seen how they have fine tuned their scenes into a well meshed volley of lines. The performances are all interconnected, the actors have developed the play to the point where you can't easily separate out individual performances. Think about that. This is very cool, because these actors still have two weeks to work this play into the thing they want it to be. So heads up. This is going to be an amazingly strong work, and that's good because the playwright, Paula Vogel, writes so well her work deserves that kind of cherishing. Better get your tickets!

Idle? We don't know that word

How true, how true. We are gearing up for our next production, " How I Learned to Drive", by Paula Vogel, which is expertly directed by Rod Oden. But have we been sitting with our hands in our laps patiently waiting? No,no,no, we have hosted events every weekend at our little theatre and it has kept the energy flowing like a swollen river. Which is good, because this next show has taken the momentum built over the last month and is barreling along at high speed with it. "Drive" as we affectionately call it, has got it's cast humming along in their new set with their spots on their marks. It's gonna be good, and it's gonna sell out. So give us a call and reserve your seats. You don't want to miss this one!

So Far So Good

The trick of getting a show to run while avoiding major disasters is planning, careful planning. Yet even the best of plans can not prevent a small oops. We have been very lucky so far. To date I think we have suffered a ripped zipper, a cut finger, a dropped and spilled glass of water, a slightly stuck guillotine, and a zippy light blip. All minor incidents, and with the great reflexes of this cast and crew, barely noticible. It has been a good run. A fine show. It's the way theatre should be.

Peering forward he said, "Who's yacht is that?"

The Actor's Nightmare is rolling along very nicely. Matt, as George, is displaying all the necessary qualities of being truly lost, but still interested in playing the game. Lorn has her leading ladies down well, including the withering stare. Melanie plays the discombobulated stage manager so well that you forget that she isn't the stage manager. She's been one before I think. Couso, well he has a very spooky voice don't you think? Kind of appropriate really. Jillian, stares, and turns, and blinks, quite vividly. That's the truth- you need to see the show to see what I mean, she does a great job considering she's virtually imprisoned. Go see the show, you'll see what I mean, and have a great time laughing your way through it.

Partial list of those going to hell?

Frankly, between you and me, the list is outdated. Hasn't Brooke redeemed herself with her tell alls? And going to hell. Is Sister Mary really sure? How did she get access to this list? Does she have God's password? Needless to say, Sister Mary does seem to have very certain views about- well everything! I need to talk to Janice, the actress that portrays her, and see where she believes Sister Mary's coming from. Because I think I know where she's going to, and wouldn't Brooke make good company?

You Can Take It With You?

Yes, according to Sister Mary Ignatious, you can and do take it with you. All your bad behavior, ill deeds, nefarious thoughts, they all are irreparably stamped on your soul as you travel to other celestial dimensions. Hmmm. Worth thinking about I'd guess. Then again, Sister Mary spouts some pretty outlandish stuff. Hmmm. Well, this much is certain, you can take it with you when it comes to the euphoric giddy feeling sustained after laughing all evening long at the Set Group's new show. You actually float out of the theatre to your car. Hmmm ;)

extreme props list?

A cigarette holder, two really lethal cutting devices, a stopwatch, a stabbing tool, a pen and letter, trash cans???? Things at Aunt Betty's yard sale? Nooooo. There's more, more really weird stuff, but I can't really explain it. You need to see it. The play, The Actor's Nightmare, is only describable if you've seen it. You need to see it. Buy your tickets and take a seat, and then you'll know what all these things are for. Trust me, it's worth it.

How was China?

How was it? It was very funny. The Actor's Nightmare is bringing laughs to the crew and within a week,to all of you too. The actor's are getting into great form. Matt, who is George, is getting seriously funny, and seriously, you could use a night of laughs couldn't you?

Who is Sister Mary?

That's a good question. She is a character laden with dogmatic drivel, resolutely defined by her narrow views. Not really what you would call a charmer. However, the actress portraying Sister Mary is a marvel! An experienced, charismatic wonder that astutely embodies all the negative attributes necessary to pull off the hardline Sister Mary. Janice Crow-Christianson has an element of playfulness that she brings to her characters as she flushes out all the little composite pieces that construct a "character". Enjoy her performance all month long at The SCV Space.

paint it black.

We came in Monday afternoon, and painted the whole freaking thing black. Gallon after gallon after kettle black gallon, sprayed into every corner. The air was so thick, choking- gagging thick with paint mist. The photo's taken are amazingly surreal. They'll get posted this week. Anyway, it's all black- as soon as Jon finishes the floor. Best of luck with that mate. But now, you get on that stage, and all eyes will be on you, no doubt.

We Found A Little Chair!

It swivels, it rocks- even though it shouldn't, and it will fit quite nicely into the set Jon designed and built. It will be Thomas' chair, and while it will not be as grand, imposing, austere, or downright spooky as Sister Mary's throne, it will do nicely for a behaved little boy. You decide for yourself.

A hypnotising outdoorsey magical Sorority Sister that swims?

What? Yea, the actors in Sister Mary Ignatious Explains It All and The Actor's Nightmare have a bevy of unusual talents and interests.We'll chat later about their eccentricities. Just know that they exist. And in this modern world that is to be expected. Oh yea, the Director is learning how to make her cat yodel from the Assistant Stage Manager. Yep. Remember, they're theatre people.

Sister Mary/Actor's Nightmare begins!

They read. They casted. They memorized. Now they are blocking out the two one acts that are to be the first season at The SET Group's new theatre, The SCV Space. How does it happen so fast? They all drink a lot of Starbucks, that's how. Seriously, you never saw such heavy drinkers. Yea, there may be some whipped cream on top, a splash of chocolate sauce too, but these people LIVE on caffeine. Good thing though, because they are tearing through the material and laying down massive chunks of lines. Great stuff to come.
Until tomorrow....