The North Park Playwright Festival is unique in many ways. It is open to first-time playwrights, directors and actors in a time that has become exceedingly difficult for tyro theater folks to learn their art. The mission of North Park Vaudeville and Candy Shop is to provide a platform. The festival attracts scripts from around the world and local talent, both brand new and well experienced.
"A Terminal Affair," by Lisa Kenner of Los Angeles, presents a look at a phenomenon not familiar to most people: the role-playing date. This is usually performed by married couples attempting to bring spice into their life. It involves one spouse picking up the other spouse in a bar, a restaurant, or even an airline terminal. Sandra (Kelly Lapczynski) and Martin (Orrick Smith) meet, complete with rolling suitcases, they banter, they rush off. Kenner's scripting gives Lapczynski and Smith an excellent platform for their talents. Smith directs.
"Call It Semantics," by San Diego playwright Tina Guido, brings two elder men, Mark (Terry Johns) and John (Neal Sullivan), both now alone, reminiscing about the past, sometimes unpleasantly. Mark Anthony directs. They realize that the fondness for each other is much more than they had planned. The script is wordy as it wends its way toward the final resolve. This may have been the reason for a bit more rehearsal time.
"My Brother's Stupid Hamster," by Dwayne Yancey of Fincastle,VA, and directed by Summer Golden. This production is played by members of STARS, a very special group of developmentally challenged young folks who train and practice theatre at North Park Vaudeville and Candy Shop throughout the year. Rachel Goldbaum acts as M.C. as Alison Portner, Luigi Flam and Summer Golden do one-liners in the characters of a boy, a grandfather and a mom.
"Cold Water" is written by Nashville, TN playwright Thomas Heine and directed by Chris Willemin. Two duelists (Anya Singleton) and (Gina Faustino), in this period piece, are at a canyon, rim pistols in hand. The discussion that follows is strange. Will they or won't they duel? It is finally resolved quite strangely.
"The Good Teacher: Circa 1955" by April Freeman of San Diego and directed by Mark Anthony, who also plays a television reporter. Terry Johns is the cameraman, and Summer Golden is a kindergarten school teacher. Looking back just over 50 years, we find that this teacher is extremely racists by today's standards. Little girls learn about wifely duties, while boys learn about manly pursuits. The stereotypes of white and black are well delineated. It could work as a satire if the playwright did her research more carefully. The ending hook, while a shocker, is totally out of character and way, way over the top.
"Husband of My Dreams," by Susan Price Monnot of Metairie, Louisiana, gives the audience a challenge. Is Linda Cummings (Wendi O'Hara) dreaming when she wakes up in the bed of her first husband, Dr. Jason Phillips (Gene Rathswohl)? Is she really married to Mick Cummings (Brian Lee Burke)? Why does the cop, Officer Mason (Chaz Close) return out of uniform to console her? What fun! [Critic's Disclaimer: I directed this piece.]
