Cindy of Arc comedy rock concert show (from NYC) w/ Intiman Theatre at Erickson Theatre Off Broadway. Don’t wait for my full review if you want to buy tickets since there’s only 4 more performances left.
Steven Dietz’s Vial Man (The #Apothecary’s Story) play reading at ACT Theatre’s inaugural NW2 (New Works Northwest) Festival. One night only! Stay tuned for my full review. #shakespeare #RomeoAndJuliet
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Larissa Fasthorse’s The Thanksgiving Play by Tacoma Arts Live. Funny portrayal of Americans navigating the minefield of PC culture, wokeness, & white guilt. Loved the juxtaposition between Valerie Miller’s vapid character & the enlightened liberals.
Recommendation
See it if either 1) you like commentaries on woke PC culture especially in regard to Native Americans 2) or you’re okay with plays that are more dialogue than action
Synopsis from the Theatre: MacArthur Genius Larissa FastHorse’s shocking satire flips the bird on one of America’s most prolific myths. When a troupe of well-meaning theater artists attempt to put on a culturally sensitive Thanksgiving school pageant, things get messy. Hilarious and poignant, this delicious play skewers everything right, wrong, and politically correct in America by exploring themes of privilege, historical accuracy of navigating these complexities.
The Thanksgiving Play made its Broadway debut at the Hayes Theater in 2023, making Larissa FastHorse the first female Native American playwright to have a play produced on Broadway. FastHorse wrote the play in response to the difficulties she faced in finding Native American actors for her previous works. Through satire and humor, the play addresses the misrepresentation of Native Americans, the lack of indigenous casting, and the challenges of accurately representing indigenous people in American society.
Attended Performance Date: 10/21/23 – See my previous preview posts here.
Type: Play
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Few
Several or Few Settings/Locations: Just one location, a rehearsal space in an elementary school
Static (Stationary) Set: Yes
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but it helps if you grew up learning about the traditional Thanksgiving stories involving Native Americans.
Defined Plot/Storyline: Not really. There’s only so much that can occur with few scenes/locations and mostly dialogue.
Equity Actors: 0
Total Number of Actors: 4
Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium Speed
Length (Including Any Intermission): 1.5 hours
Was there an intermission? No
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now?: No, but it wasn’t terrible
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts
Alica: I loved Valerie Miller’s character Alicia, a ditsy vapid actor/influencer LA valley girl. She reminded me of Kim Kardashian, Elle Woods (from the movie Legally Blonde), or Quinn/Brittany (from the TV show Daria). Her personality hilariously contrasted with the woke intellectuals Logan (played by Andrea Gordon) and Jaxton (played by Rodman Bolek). It was like putting a stereotypical superficial Los Angeleno and a deep Pacific Northwesterner in the same room. Alicia’s scene describing her lobotomized contentment and simplicity was reminiscent of when Chris Traeger took Ron Swanson meditating in the Parks and Recreation TV show. Alicia teaching Logan reminded me of Elle Woods teaching the “Bend and Snap” in the Legally Blonde movie.
Favorite Line: “Dramaturg? The holy grail of American theater titles.” “What is that?” “No one knows”
Theatre Company: Tacoma Arts Live’s Theatre Northwest
Venue: Tacoma Armory
Venue Physical Address: 1001 S Yakima Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405
Disney in Concert: The Sound of Magic by Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall. Don’t wait for my full review to buy tickets since there’s only one more performance left on 10/29/23!
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Bloodletting play by Pork Filled Productions at Theatre Off Jackson directed by Zenaida R. Smith. Filipino story about Aswangs with a queer spin. I felt like I was back in the Philippines! #Aswang #showsiveseen #theatre #palawan
Recommendation
See it if you want to reminisce about the Philippines
Synopsis from the Theatre: Under the watchful moon, estranged siblings Farrah and Bosley reunite in the Philippines to spread their father’s ashes in Palawan’s treasured underground river. They take shelter from a storm in a local café, where they open old family wounds and encounter an aswang, a Filipino vampire, who awakens in Farrah an ancient, terrifying, and innate power. Will she embrace her new-found power? Or let it destroy herself and her brother?
Attended Performance Date: 10/20/23 (Opening Weekend) – See my previous preview posts here.
Type: Play
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Few
Several or Few Settings/Locations: Few
Static (Stationary) Set: Yes
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You should be familiar with Aswangs. The program contains a good explanation. People who don’t know what Aswangs are (sadly me) and who didn’t read the Aswangs article (me again) might struggle understanding what an Aswangs is when watching this play. The theatre’s synopsis touts them as “vampires,” but that word is too limiting. But I guess there isn’t a western term that encompasses this Filipino concept.
Defined Plot/Storyline: Mostly yes, but there’s only so much that can occur with few scenes/locations
Equity Actors: 0
Total Number of Actors: 4
Perceived Pace of the Show: Slow, especially with the large amount of dialogue. However, it did help to have fight scenes where the Aswang used their power.
Length (Including Any Intermission): 2 hours
Was there an intermission?: Yes
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show: Yes
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: No
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts
Scenic Design: The stage accurately portrayed what a typical eatery might look like in the Philippines in the middle of nowhere. It had thatch-like bahay kubo flair.
LeeLee: I probably enjoyed Anna Mulia’s portrayal of LeeLee the most. She portrayed mystery, youthful energy, and a good impression of a Pinay born in the Philippines.
Audio: The sound effects were well-timed and well-chosen.
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
Blood: For a play called “Bloodletting,” I thought there would be more blood!
Theatre Company: Pork Filled Productions
Venue: Theatre Off Jackson
Venue Physical Address: 409 7th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
Ticket Affordability Options: You can self-select “access pricing” on the ticketing website.
Dates: October 19 to November 4, 2023
Seating: General Admission
Parking: Paid street parking is usually available north of the theatre on the hill close to the park. You can also try free parking on Jackson Street closer to the I-5 bridge. As usual, there are paid parking lots nearby as well.
Farrah (Jen-Ai Clinton) forces Leelee (Anna Mulia) to her knees. Photo by Roger Tang.Jenry (Sam Prudente) tends to an ailing Bosley (Matt Dela Cruz). Photo by Roger Tang.Farrah (Jen-Ai Clinton) is struck by a realization sparked by Jenry (Sam Prudente). Photo by Roger Tang.Chaos erupts as Farrah (Jen-Ai Clinton tends to Bosley (Matt Dela Cruz) and Leelee (Ann Mulia) sees to Jenry (Sam Prudente). Photo by Roger Tang.Farrah (Jen-Ai Clinton) and Leelee (Anna Mulia) struggle over an urn of ashes. Photo by Roger Tang.Bosley (Matt Dela Ctuz) and Farrah (Jen-Ai Clinton) suddenly notices it has mysteriously stopped raining. Photo by Roger Tang.Leelee (Anna Mulia) and Farrah (Jen-Ai Clinton) engage in a supernatural battle. Photo by Roger Tang.
Role
Name
Leelee
Anna Mulia
Jenry
Sam Prudente
Farrah
Jen-Ai Clinton
Bosley
Matt Dela Cruz
Understudies
Anamaria Guerzon Kendall Uyeji
—
—
Director
Zenaida R. Smith
Playwright
Boni B. Alvarez
Assistant Director
David Le
Stage Manager
Omar Faust
Assistant Stage Manager
Alister James Stern
Cultural Consultant and Dramaturg
Eloisa Cardona
Assistant Dramaturg
Anamaria Guerzon
Electrician
Robert Lucy
Outreach
Sam Qiambo
Props Designer
Jessamyn Bateman-Iino
Lighting Designer
Emily Leong
Intimacy & Fight Consultant
Jasmine Lomax
Set Designer and Builder
Robin Macartnery
Costume Designer
Corinne Park-Buffelen
Sound Designer
Josh Valdez
Social Media Coordinator
Linda Rigor
Production Manager
P. Alyda Sorm
Graphic Designer
Kwesi Phillips
Producers
Omar Faust David Le P. Alyda Sorm Roger Tang Kendall Uyeji Josh Valdez