BWW Covers: PlayFest at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre

It's always refreshing to see what our new up-and-coming playwrights are producing. Especially in an Orlando theatre season that is jam packed with iconic musical remountings. On November 1st - 3rd Orlando Shakespeare presented the 8th annual PlayFest: a celebration of new plays.

PlayFest is a festival dedicated to new plays by presenting these scripts as staged readings. It's important to go into PlayFest (or any event devoted to new works) with an open mind. Patrons will not to find a final product, but rather something, hopefully, on its way. Orlando Shakespeare has invited the community into the process to see how a playwright works his/her play and irons out all the wrinkles. Each script is in a different stage of development.

It's always more exciting to see something in its early stages and then again when its more complete. This is something that actually happens at PlayFest. Orlando Shakespeare Theatre takes the audience feedback seriously and they tend to select one of the scripts from PlayFest to give it a fully produced production featured in their next season.

I had the opportunity to see two readings; ANNIE JUMP AND THE LIBRARY OF HEAVEN written by Reina Hardy and GLOUCESTER BLUE by Israel Horovitz. Before each staged reading audience members are given a feedback form. Below are a few thoughts on the readings I attended along with the questions that were asked on the feedback form.

ANNIE JUMP AND THE LIBRARY OF HEAVEN by Reina Hardy

Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven is a comedy about; Annie Jump, her mad scientist dad, and a not so welcomed visitor from another world. The topics discussed in Reina Hardy's play are, like the play, larger than life. While the language gets bogged down in scientific jargon, the lead character of Annie is a defined character and, despite the absurdity of the plays premise, we the audience still buy into her journey and go along for the ride.

Patrons are asked to rank 1 (least favorable) to 10 (most favorable)

Are the Characters well developed? 5

Through the course of the play, did you feel as though you got to know and understand them? 6

Does the play keep your attention? 5

Is there a sense of urgency that keeps your interested? 6

Is the play thought provoking and/or moving? 7

Do you find the story compelling? 6

Was the story clear and understandable? 5

Is the title interesting and appropriate? 6

Does it make you want to see this play? 5

Does it fit this play? 7

Did the play go in a direction that surprised you? 7

Is the length of the play satisfying? 5

Overall how would you rate this play? 5

What parts of this play speak to you?

At the heart of Annie Jump is a father/daughter story turned on its head where the child has become the parent and parent becomes the child. When the two characters are on stage together the play soars and develops lightyears beyond scenes that consist of nothing more than industry rhetoric.

Would you be interested in seeing a full production?

Annie Jump is still in the early stages of becoming ready for a professional debut. Until then, the script should be revisited and retooled in areas that need attention.

Are there any parts that did not work for you?

As stated above, the story becomes weighted down in areas that consist as expositional devices to get the plot expressed to the audience. Annie Jump also comes to a sudden conclusion that conveniently ties up all its loose ends a lot quicker than the audience was introduced to them.

Were any parts confusing or unclear?

Towards the climactic final act of this play, Annie Jump becomes challenging to follow as plot is consumed, once again, by alien themes unfamiliar to the audience.

General comments:

The good: Annie Jump has a heart. If a play makes it to a staged reading in-front of paying customers without a heart then I would predict rocky waters ahead for this playwright and her script, but the theme is there and it's beating loud. The playwright just needs to not have its other themes be competing with that pulse

GLOUCESTER BLUE by Israel Horovitz

GLOUCESTER BLUE is a tragic farce by Gloucester, MA playwright Israel Horovitz and Artistic Director of Gloucester Stage Co. Being a native of Boston, I did find myself seeing a rather troubled production of Albee's THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA at Gloucester Stage Co, but this is my first run in with the playwrights own material. Like THE GOAT, GLOUCESTER BLUE is another living room drama that ends tragically for the protagonist.

Two contracted painters are hired to cover the living room of a Gloucester seaside estate in a color named after its town of residence. Not just blue, but Gloucester Blue. As the two men (Bummy and Latham) begin their winded banter while painting, we the audience sense something is up. Before long, the cast of four is tripping over themselves trying to cover up each of their unforgivable actions. GLOUCESTER BLUE is a poignant farce that has the potential to become catastrophically hilarious.

Are the characters well developed? 7

Through the course of the play, did you feel as though you got to know and understand them? 7

Does the play keep your attention? 7

Is there a sense of urgency that keeps you interested? 8

Is the play thought provoking and/or moving? 7

Do you find the story compelling? 7

Was the story clear and understandable? 7

Is the title interesting and appropriate? 8

Does it make you want to see this play? 8

Does it fit the play? 8

Did the play go in a direction that surprised you? 9

Is the length of the play satisfying? 7

Overall, how would you rate this play? 7

What parts of this play speaks to you?

Being set in the bucolic town of Gloucester, just miles from my hometown, the language of the piece was authentic to its location.

Would you be interested in seeing a full production?

Given the theatrics unable to be captured by reading stage directions aloud with the combined vivid story telling, I think this production would make for a wonderful professional debut by next year.

Are there any parts that did not work for you?

Bummy's character was a puzzle to me, we do not learn enough about him and when Latham accuses Bummy of "being one of them", I found myself questioning the authenticity of Bummy as much as I was questioning the purpose of him in the play. While the language of the play is genuine to someone who lived in New England, I noticed many of the jokes (Market Basket's coup-de-tat, and 'leaf peepers') didn't land for an audience of devout Publix customers with year round greenery.

Were any parts confusing or unclear?

Like any good farce, the plot was simple and easy to follow

Were there any moments when you lost interest?

The second act runs at a frantic pace of derailment. Unfortunately, the first act runs as a much opposite pace that failed to captivate me until a major plot twist developed. Finding a way to bring up the first act to match the tone of the second act will be one of the greatest favors the playwright can do for this strong scrip.

(Photos by Landon St. Gordon)

Recent PlayFest shows included in our season:

Bad Dog (from PlayFest 2013) will close our Signature Series this season The Cortez Method (PlayFest 2012) appeared as part of our 25th Season The Odyssey (PlayFest 2011) appeared as part of our 24th Season For more information on PlayFest visit Orlando Shakespeare Theatre's website.

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