Love the Cracksman

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Love the Cracksman by Mark Brown offered some comedy a this year’s PlayFest. Feats of daring-do are nothing new for the suave James
Willoughby Pitt (Logan Benedict). Relying on his wits to stay one step ahead, Pitt bets he can
commit the perfect crime. His determination takes him on a whirlwind adventure
across the Atlantic. He gets a second class ticket on the Lusitania and spies the woman of his dreams in first class (Sarah Hubert). Reputation, fortune, and true love are at risk for Jimmy
in this witty, fast-paced comedy. 

In the rehearsal I sketched, the actors were working their way through the second act when I entered and then after a break, they went back to the first act, so my impression of this comedy is very non-linear. Burglary is a fine art for some and the Cracksman only committed crimes to win a gentleman’s wager. In truth he had more of the heart of a detective who would rather return stolen gems once the wager was won.


Logan wore a black jacket for the dress rehearsal. At one point the script called for him to place a stolen necklace in his jacket pocket, but his pockets were sewn shut. He explained that he bought the jacket for his wedding but never used it. Another member of the cast explained that sometimes the stitches just had to be removed. Without missing a beat the stitches came out without any interruption to the flow of the rehearsal.

 

Director Mark Shanahan had the actors crouching down behind the music stands when they were in hiding, and characters were in hiding quite often. I have no doubt that the final reading was a fun filled, tongue in cheek romp.

PlayFest is a two weekend festival of new plays features seven readings of raw,
as of yet unproduced works! PlayFest gives audiences the opportunity to be
involved with the creative process by giving feedback in real time and
mingling with the playwrights, actors, and directors. Next weekend, November 10 and 11, 2018, three more plays readings will be presented, I Can Go by Merideth Friedman, The Great Beyond by Stephen Deitz and My Lord What a Night by Deborah Brevoort.

#God Hates You

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#GodHatesYou by Emily Dendinger is part of the PlayFest line up at the Orlando Shakespeare Center (812 E Rollins St, Orlando, FL).

“God punishes the wicked and rewards the good. #repentorperish” Having attended her first picket at five years old, Laurel (Amanda Anne Dayton) is proud of the good work she has done in the name of the Lord. While being groomed to be the next leader of her radical church (a fictional church similar to Westboro Baptist), she takes to Twitter to spread the Word. When her tweets are responded to by an agnostic college student, a rabbi, and a few Twitter trolls, Laurel struggles to determine the true meaning of her faith and define her relationship with God.

Laurel is a smart woman who believes in the sincerity of the message of hellfire and brimstone that she helps to spread. Via Twitter she converses with a rabbi who she considers to be damned. He ironically likes his exchanges with her and his theological arguments make her start to think. The play will incorporate projections so the audience can see the text exchanges as they happen. It was fascinating to follow her journey, because she was a good person, just raised in a hate filled congregation.

Probably the funniest moment came when the church members were shouting their hate in a demonstration. They knew exactly how long their permit allowed for the demonstration and when the time came, someone’s phone alarm went off with the silliest of elevator music ring tones. The signs went down and the demonstration was over. I only saw the first act in the rehearsal I sketched, but I am rooting for Laura to find her own voice and moral bearings.

What was truly fascinating about the rehearsal was that Emily, the author was refining and updating

the scrips as the actors did the read through. The creative process continues right until the moment the play opens to an audience.

Director: Kristin Clippard,
Stage Manager: Lisa Hardt,
Stage Directions Reader: Summer Pliskow,

CAST: Mandi Lee as Colleen, Christine Gervais as Grace, Andy Gion as Donny, Carlos Pereyo as Joshua, James Putnam as Noah, and Mark Davids as Rabbi Cohen.

PlayFest runs November 2 – 4 and 10 – 11, 2018

A two weekend festival of new plays features seven readings of raw,
as of yet unproduced works! PlayFest gives audiences the opportunity to be
involved with the creative process by giving feedback in real time and
mingling with the playwrights, actors, and directors.

Tickets to individual PlayFest readings ($10) on sale now!

Boom at Theater on the Edge

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 In the Boom pre show, video monitors announced the upcoming performance as if we were in line for a theme park attraction like Carousel of Progress at Disney World. Barbara, (Elaitheia Quinn) is the audience’s guide in her orchestrated show about the end of civilization thousands of years earlier. She begins oddly enough by banging on a timpani drum. She then twists dials and pulls leavers bringing the action to life.

Jules, (Adam Minossora) a grad student in marine biology, and Jo, (Megan Raitano) a journalism student, meet on Saturday night in Jules’s small underground laboratory on a university campus, after Jo answers Jules’s online personal ad offering an encounter that promises “sex to change the course of the world.” Corrugated cardboard was duck taped to the ceiling and an obsessive chart tied together many fragments of research all leading to one ominous vortex. It is the type of chart you might expect from a mad man.

As Jo aggressively invited Jules’ advances, while he tried to quickly fill the awkwardness with fast paced conversation. Both characters were manic and and full of energy. Jo kept flopping down on the mattress on the floor. She spoke with a thick Flushing accent. When the two of them finally kissed it was awkward. It may have been the worst kiss Jo had ever experienced.

There was a small fish tank at the back o the stage. Jules began to explain that his research on a deserted tropical island, uncovered patterns of behavior among the fish that seemed to indicate that they feared extinction. He began his research which verified that the earth would experience a devastating impact from an asteroid similar to the extinction event that wiped dinosaurs off the face of the earth.  So he turned his tiny lab and apartment into a place to wait out the disaster and begin remaking humanity. It turns out that Jules was a virgin and he thought he might be gay. When his research prediction proved to be true, it turned out he must live out his days with a woman who hates him.

Jules and Jo’s dreams and aspirations for freedom seem to mirror Barbara’s feeling of confinement in her dead end job running the museum attraction. When she ignored her duties running the attraction things went haywire. The play seemed to indicate that our differences are minor. We are a mere speck in the universe, yet life finds a way.

Boom at Theater on the Edge (5542 Hansel Ave, Orlando, FL 32809) began November 2, 2018 and runs through December 9, 2018. Tickets are $20 to $32. This is another cutting edge performance that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

PlayFest at the Orlando Shakes

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I went to the opening day of rehearsals for PlayFest at the Orlando Shakespeare Center (812 E Rollins St, Orlando, FL 32803). PlayFest presented by Harriett’s Charitable Trust is a two-week
annual festival that provides a place for writers, theatre
professionals, and audiences to connect and share ideas that promote
thought-provoking stories. Audiences experience staged readings of seven
new works over two weekends and participate in the development of new
plays, conversing with playwrights, directors, and actors while
absorbing groundbreaking new works. Over the years, the festival has introduced over 163 new works to regional and nationwide audiences.

The first rehearsal I sketched was 72 Miles to Go… written by Hilary Bettis and directed by Paul Castañede. Hilary and Paul sat side by side at the far end of the table. When a mother is deported to Mexico for the second time, the family
struggles to reunite with so much red tape in their way. Set against the
volatile backdrop of immigration in the United States during the Obama
administration, 72 miles to go… gives us a glimpse at one family’s journey over eight years.

There were many heart warming moments as this initial reading allowed me to meet this family for the first time. The father, who was a Unitarian Pastor, had a sharp wit and tried to lighten any family argument with a joke. His wife had been sent back to Mexico when she was stopped for having a tail light out. His phone conversation with her was heart breaking since their love and respect was crystal clear, despite being forced to live apart. The title of the play comes from the distance between Tuscon, Arizona and Nogales, Mexico—and
the distance between deported immigrant Anita (Leesa Castañeda) and her American-born
husband, Billy (Joe Llorens) and her children.

When the younger sister Eva (Ana Martinez Medina) has a minor accident, the police escort her home. Being born in America she is a citizen, but her older brother, Christian (Diego Zozaya) faces the possibility of deportation every day. His younger brother Aaron (Rico Lastrapes) helped him

hide in a panic when the red and blue lights flashed outside their home. The play follows all the kids as they grow up in America, The sister becomes a valedictorian graduate from high school and in her speech to classmates she spoke of her mom’s deportation for the first time. The youngest brother joins the military and the older brother raises his own family. Though growing up under very uncertain

conditions, each kid turned out fine and contributes to making America great.

The play is particularly relevant today as President Trump is spouting xenophobic rhetoric and hate against immigrants. He even claims he will overturn the 14th amendment, which states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to
the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the
state wherein they reside.” and he wants to deport any children born in America who came from illegal immigrants. In this time of deviciveness, it was so nice to fall in love with what is truly important, which is family, and everyday dreams and aspirations.

PlayFest runs from November 2 – 4 and 10 – 11, 2018. 7 original plays are on the banquet.

If you want to catch every performance you can purchase PlayFest passes.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for November 3 and 4, 2018

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Saturday November 3, 2018

8am to 1pm Free. Parramore Farmers Market. The east side of the Orlando City Stadium, across from City View. Purchase quality, fresh and healthy food grown in your own
neighborhood by local farmers, including Fleet Farming, Growing Orlando,
and other community growers.

8pm to 10pm Free. Shuffleboard. Orlando’s Beardall Courts 800 Delaney Ave Orlando FL.  1st Saturday of each month.

10:30pm to 12:30am Free with dinner or a drink. Son Flamenco. Ceviche Tapas Orlando, 125 W Church St, Orlando, FL.  Hot blooded Flamenco dancing to acoustic guitar.

Sunday November 4, 2018

Daylight Savings Time Ends.

10am to Noon Free. Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation Class. University, 5200 Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32811. The Method of Heartfulness. A simple and practical way to experience the heart’s unlimited resources.

11am to 5pm Free. Japan Festival. Kissimmee Lakefront Park, 201 Lakeview Dr, Kissimmee, FL 34741. The Atlantic and Pacific oceans separate Orlando from Japan’s awesome
cultural opportunities. However, you won’t have to sleep between two
portly snorers on a flight to Tokyo because Orlando’s packing plenty of
Japanese culture as it is. Authentic music, dance, food and dress will
decorate the Disney-crazed city to provide the culture shock you
desperately crave.

 6:30pm to 8:30pm Free. PARCELs: MFAs In Progress. Orlando Brewing 1301 Atlanta Ave, Orlando, Florida 32806. Another edition of PARCELS! The November readings will feature work from
Alicia Ezekiel-Pipkin, Jessica Vervoort, Lance Milham, Malcolm Kelly,
and an MFA Alum reading from Vanessa Blakeslee!

Horror in the Milk District

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I went to a Drink and Draw in the Milk District and parked on a side street. When I left the event I noticed a bright orange glow and decided to change my route home and drive towards the light. On Kilgore between Primrose and Graham I found this lawn littered with graves and a skeletal dragon. Since I had already done a sketch for the night I wanted to get home but I made a mental note to return the next night.

On Hallows Eve I returned and parked a short distance away, not wanting to block the view. I considered sketching from across the street but a neighbor had on a bright light which I considered a distraction. Instead, I sat right on the curb and started to catch as much of the scene as I could. Fairly early in the sketch, I noticed the owner of the home walk out looking at his cell phone. I figured he must have seen me from inside and wanted to see what I was up to.

He later related that his cat had been acting strange and so he wanted to see why. He then noticed birds chirping which was strange since it was nighttime. When he got to the end of his driveway I decided to say hello. He nearly jumped out of his skin, a reaction I hadn’t expected. He hadn’t seen me until I spoke up. He later said that he thought I was seated in a wheel chair. I must have been a ghostly apparition. Then we joked and talked for a while. I told him about my childhood memories of carving hundreds of pumpkins each Halloween for my families annual display.

Most of the figures on his lawn are action motivated. The dragon’s eyes light up and he opens his mouth to hiss. The skeletal cat and skeleton leaning against a gravestone do much the same. Neighbor walked by to check out the display, and Pam Schwartz joined me to check out the display. She chatted to people as I sketched. It was a friendly relaxing neighborhood gathering.

Story Corps Maria and Natalia Guerrero

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In 2007, Maria Guerrero founded Woman in the Arts Inc and the Orlando Public Library has offered advise and guidance along the way. Her daughter Natalia Guerrero has helped her every step pf the way and on this journey they both discovered that they are artists at heart.

Women in the Arts, Inc. is a 501(c)3
non-profit organization founded to recognize the work of women artists
and bring art education to the greater community. The organization’s
defining statements, “Art heals by giving voice to the soul,” and “Celebrating the genius of women,”
underline its mission to advance art education for people of all ages,
especially the youth, and raise public awareness of women’s
contributions to the arts.

As Maria said,

“The
decision to establish Women in the Arts was my response to a spiritual
call to serve by bringing recognition to the talent and work of women artists and
to provide access to free art education, especially to children. There
are different kinds of poverty and the lack of access and exposure to
the arts constitutes a form of intellectual poverty which Women in the
Arts seeks to address.

It was heart warming to see Natalia working so closely with her mom on a project that they both are passionate about. Natalie is a TESS Objects of Interest Manager and Communications Lead at MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. So besides her interest in Women in the Arts, she is exploring the final frontier. They both approached me after the interview to see what I had sketched. They both smiled broadly at my crude interpretation of the brief interview. It is enthusiasm like theirs that is helping keep the arts alive in Central Florida.

Wawa® Shabbawa

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Performance Artist Brian Feldman returned to Orlando for a friend’s wedding and, while back in town, he decided to host the Orlando premiere of Wawa® Shabbawa at Store #5153 on Colonial Drive near the Executive airport.  As the event description read, “Many people consider Wawa® a sacred institution, and Jews worldwide certainly consider Shabbat to be one as well.” OneTable helped host this unique Shabbat dinner. Shabbat is a Jewish dinner tradition held every Friday evening after sunset usually with wine and challah. These traditional dishes were replaced with carbonated Grape Juice, and Soft Pretzels. Brian, standing behind LED candles, held up a large soda and recited the Shabbat blessings. I have been to enough Shabbat dinners to recognize the first few words, “Barukh atah Adonai…” After that I get lost. There is something very American and daring about breaking bread together at a chain gas station eatery. 

The event was sold out and I contacted Brian letting him know I had my own chair. He let me know that the seat left open for Elijah was available. People gathered on the edge of the seating area near the cement planters and parking pylons. Perhaps they were nervous that there was assigned seating. A man hung on the periphery wondering what was happening. He asked a guest a question and I heard the response which was to talk to the the guy in black. Brian was wearing a black suit, but I was also wearing a black shirt. The man approached me and asked me a question I couldn’t quite hear. When sketching I get lost in my zone. He asked if this was a food sharing, which I suppose it was. Brian let everyone know that they could order food inside and he would cover the bill thanks to OneTable.

Pam Schwartz was with me and I believe this was her first Shabbat. We had just had dinner at a Pho Restaurant. She went inside and got me a bright pink Banana and Strawberry smoothie. I sipped as I sketched. At the tables, people sipped the thimble sized red plastic cups of grape juice. One member of the Wawa staff had come into work specifically for this Shabbat. Another member of the Wawa staff came out with a swag bag full of Wawa t-shirts stuffed animals and a Wawa history books. Brian gave me a T-shirt and book saying it would help with the write up.

A guy in a bright yellow shirt watched the evening unfold. He had no idea what Shabbat was. He was curious and I suspect, suspicious. Part of me felt a tinge of nervousness to be documenting this open display of religious celebration and tradition. The previous week I had seen a video of two Floridians ruthlessly punching and dragging a small girl by the hair as she waited for her family to come back from inside a similar roadside gas station. The attack was mindless and unprovoked, being caught entirely on the security cams. That seems to be the state of the country today, but this breaking of bread stood in stark contrast. There was laughter and a feeling of shared community.

The next morning, there was a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue which took 11 lives and injured six others. The gunman, armed with a semiautomatic rifle and three Glock .357 handguns, burst into the Tree
of Life Congregation Synagogue on Saturday, shouting anti-Semitic
epithets and opening fire on the congregants who were gathered for a baby naming ceremony. The Anti-Defamation League called Saturday’s attack the deadliest against the Jewish community in U.S. history. Are we a county where people can no longer worship freely and live safely? Today I votes early. It seems this is the only thing I can do in the face of today’s madness.

Joyce Fienberg, 75

Richard Gottfried,65

Rose Malinger, 97

Jerry Rabinowitz, 66

Cecil Rosenthal, 59

David Rosenthal, 54

Bernice Simon, 84

Sylvan Simon, 86

Daniel Stein, 71

Melvin Waxn, 88

Irving Younger, 69

Library Video Interviews

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After Story Corps conducted each interview on the library’s top floor, staff would escort people down to the Dorothy Lumley Melrose Center where a video interview was done to recap what was discussed with Story Corps. I sketched as Anthony adjusted the lighting levels and reflectors. Like a sketch, much of the work is done before people even enter the room. Cynthia Velasco conducted the interviews seated discreetly behind the multiple TV cameras.

Daniella King and Craig Wilkins work for the library and they discussed the pleasure to be found when they hire someone who blooms and flourishes in their new role. Craig is about to retire and he has acted as a mentor for Daniella. She said she is a bit concerned that she will not have his advice once he leaves, but he knows that she will do a fine job moving forward. Apparently there were tears shed in the Story Corp interview as they reflected on their growth at the library. This is the magic in speaking to two people at once, they already have a history.

Genome VIP Opening

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Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code opened at the Orange County Regional History Center (65 E Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801) with a VIP opening reception in the lobby. The traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution is presented by Orlando Health and is open through January 6, 2019.

This special exhibit examines the complexities of the
genome—the genetic or hereditary material of a living organism—through
cutting-edge displays, animation, and fascinating real-life stories that
reveal the links between generations and how our histories begin long
before we are born. The exhibit also examines both the benefits and
challenges the study of genetics presents to our society.

The exhibit also contains a special area, custom designed by History Center staff, that
explores three genomic ties to Central Florida – in the fascinating
findings at the Windover Bog archaeological site in Brevard County, in
the development of citrus, and through the family histories of some
well-known Central Floridians, including Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer; Jorge
Estevez, WFTV Channel 9 news anchor; journalist Brendan O’Connor of the
Bungalower; Toni Pressley, Orlando Pride soccer team defender; and
Geraldine Thompson, former state representative and senator and founder
of Orlando’s Wells’ Built Museum.

At the VIP reception all the participants in the family tree project were given time to discuss their feelings about the project. Buddy Dyer took time to thank Pam Schwartz for her contributions in spearheading a collecting initiative of memorial items after the Pulse Nightclub massacre. Geraldine Thompson gave the most moving testimony as she described her feeling after discovering that she had a close relative that she didn’t know existed. A man who was searching for his biological father contacted Pam and she was able to prove through DNA and family history who his father really was. Unfortunately the father had died a few years prior. But the man and Geraldine are both seem excited to meet one another.

The exhibit features large interactive displays with projections and video. You can literally spend hours learning about DNA and life’s code if you read every text panel. The evening was winding down before I could finish my explorations.