PlayFest: My Lord What a Night

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The final PlayFest rehearsal I sketched was, My Lord, What a Night by Deborah Brevoort. The author was present and actively working on rewrites during the rehearsal. For the first half hour of the rehearsal the cast sat around the table going over new lines added or subtracted from the script. At first I thought I would not have enough time to sketch this process but then I leaped in and thankfully this part of the rehearsal lasted for more than the projected time allotted. For the second half of the rehearsal, all the actors stood at the music stands.

When famed African-American singer Marian Anderson (Sheryl Carbonell) is refused lodging because of her ethnicity, she finds an unlikely friend in Albert Einstein (Eric Zivot). Quick witted debates attempt to solve the nation’s problems over tea. Inspired by true events, this story explores the racial, religious, and gender-based struggles plaguing two of the most iconic entities of the 20th century.

Einstein wants to use his fame to protect Marian from the racism in America. He is so adamant about the cause because he narrowly escaped the Nazi racism against Jews during World War II. At the tie of this drama he worked at Princeton University and Aberham Flexner (J.D. Sutton) Abraham wanted to dissuade Einstein from letting Marian stay at his flat. The request seemed racist but he also felt it would seem inappropriate since both Einstein and Marian were unmarried. Another concern was that the college might loose funding because of the controversy. Flexner seemed like less of a villain when he explained that he was attempting to get Jews out of Germany with these funds.

Mary Church Terrell (Trenell Mooring) was arrested when she was trying to get into the Marian Anderson concert in Princeton. Trumped up charges claimed she was causing a disturbance when she asked where the theater was. When she finally got there, she found that these was only seating left for whites. Though old, she was a strong willed woman who wanted Marian to use her fame to address these racial injustices.

The rehearsal was not a straight forward read through, so the timeline I saw was disjointed, but on a whole I was fully engaged as I discovered more about each character. This PlayFest production seemed to involve the most movement and blocking which was beautifully orchestrated by the director Kel Haney. Some scenes had to be run over and over to get the lines to work with the action. This show has an intriguing premise and is sure to be be fun to watch on the stage.

Stage Manager: Justin Little,
Stage Directions Reader: Rachael Lord

Be sure to catch this final PlayFest production. Be part of the creative process.

My Lord What a Night by Deborah Brevoort. Sunday November 11, 2018 at 1pm. At the Orlando Shakes, Margeson Theater (812 E Rollins St, Orlando, FL 32803).

Tickets are $10.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for November 10 and 11, 2018

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Saturday November 10, 2018

4pm $10 PlayFest: I Can Go by Meridith Friedman. Orlando Shakes 812 Rollins Street Orlando FL. Armed with sharp tongues and dry wit, Richard and David
navigate complex family relationships on the eve of their wedding. Despite
hindrances ranging from white lies to life-altering secrets, I CAN GO uncovers
human truths about the ones they love most. This contemporary and wryly
humorous dramedy is the final installment in a series of three plays by
Meridith Friedman, following The Luckiest People (produced by Orlando
Shakes in April 2018) and Your Best One (read at PlayFest 2017). 

6:30pm $15 per person in advance; $18 per person at the door. PlayFest Party. Orlando Shakes 812 Rollins Street Orlando FL. Share a drink and dinner with your fellow PlayFest attendees, playwrights, and artist between readings in the Dr. Phillips Patron’s Room. Buffet dinner provided by Tako Cheena.


8pm $10 PlayFest: The Great Beyond by Stephen Deitz. Orlando Shakes 812 Rollins Street Orlando FL. Despite their differences, sisters, Monica and Emily, reunite
to tie up loose ends after their father’s death. With the help of a medium, the
siblings attempt to summon their father’s spirit to gain forgiveness and
discover the truth. 

Sunday November11, 2018  

Noon to 1pm Free. Yoga. Lake Eola near the Red Gazebo. Bring your own mat.

1pm to 4:30pm Free. Family Day on Second Saturday. The Mennello Museum of American Art, 900 East Princeton Street, Orlando, FL 32803. The make-and-take craft table is open from noon-2:30 p.m., and docents
are available to give mini-tours of the museum. Then it’s open house in
the galleries until 4:30 p.m.


1pm $10 PlayFest: My Lord What a Night by Deborah Brevoort. Orlando Shakes 812 Rollins Street Orlando FL. When famed African-American singer Marian Anderson is refused lodging
because of her ethnicity, she finds an unlikely friend in Albert
Einstein. Quick witted debates attempt to solve the nation’s problems
over tea. Inspired by true events, this story explores the racial,
religious, and gender-based struggles plaguing two of the most iconic
entities of the 20th century.

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.