Nov. 5, 2009 : Center Stage: Dead Man's Cell Phone, Speed-the-Plow and The Taming of the Shrew

WHEN WE CONTINUE, JARED
BOWEN WITH CENTER STAGE.
>> TONIGHT CENTER STAGE IS
ALL ABOUT THE FUNNYS AS
JARED BOWEN LOOKS AT THE NEW
COMEDY DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE,
SHAKESPEARE'S CLASS IMCOMEDY
THE TAMING IT OF THE SSHREW
AND DAVID MAMET'S OWN CLOSET
SPEED THE PLOW.
>> SPEED THE PLOW AT NEW
REPER TORY THESE CERTIFICATE
A STEROID FUELED STORY OF
ART AND COMMERCE.
IN THIS FOULFEST AN IDEALISTIC
TEMP GIVES PAUSE TO YOU BEER
HOLLYWOOD MOVIE PRODUCERS
LOOKING TO MAKE A
BLOCKBUSTER OUT OF THE
LATEST SCHLOCK.
WILL THE ART FILM OR
MINDLESS MOVIE WIN OUT IT IS
CLASSIC RAPID MAM ET.
SPEED THE PLOW PLAYING AT
NEW REPER TORY THEATRE
THROUGH NOVEMBER 8th.
IN DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE AT
THE LYRIC STAGE COMPANY OF
BOSTON A LONELY CAFE PATRON
TAKES THE CELL PHONE OF A
MAN WHO DIED AT THE NEXT
TABLE.
IN ANSWERING HIS CALLS SHE
PARACHUTES INTO HIS LIFE AND
INTO ALL OF HIS WITHERED
RELATIONSHIPS.
ALL THE WHILE SHE ATTEMPTS
TO ATONE FOR HIS FAILINGS IN
THIS COMEDY BY RISING
PLAYWRIGHT SARAH RULE.
DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE PLAYS
AT THE LYRIC STAGE COMPANY
THROUGH NOVEMBER 14th --
14th.
SHAKESPEARE'S RAUCOUS BATTLE
OF THE SEXES THE TAMING OF
THE SHREW KICKS OFF ACTOR
SHAKESPEARE'S PROJECT'S 6th
SEASON WITH THE ORIGINAL
HAND GAUGE FULLY INTACT, THE
COMEDY THAT MACES THE WICKED
KATE AND HER YOUNGER SISTER
BIANCA UP FROM MATRIMONY
UNFOLDS IN A GREEDY BARROOM
THERE ARE PLENTY OF NOVEL
MODERN DAY NODS TO THE
ORIGINAL PLAY TO MAKE THIS
MASTER BEAST FRESHING.
SEE THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
PLAYING DOWNSTAIRS AT THE
GARAGE IN HARVARD SQUARE
THROUGH NOVEMBER 15th.
>> AND JARED BOWSEN HERE
ALONG WITH THEATRE CRITIC
TERRY BYRNE.
JAFR ED STARTING WITH YOU,
SPEED THE PLOW.
I THINK I SAW THAT LAST TIME
ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO.
I DON'T REMEMBER IT BEING
THAT ALL THAT FUNNY IT IS
THAT INTRICATE DAVID MAMET
LAYERED THING.
>> WELL, ONCE YOU START TO
REALIZE HOW -- I THINK THAT
IS WHAT IS SO FUNNY.
I THINK IT AGES INCREDIBLY
WELL AT FIRST PREMIERED ON
BROADWAY IN 1988 WITH
MADONNA.
AND AND I THINK IT ONLY
HOLDS EVEN TRUER NOW WITH
THE WAY THE INDUSTRY HAS
GONE IN PLACING SO MUCH
EMPHASIS ON HUGE BLOCKBUSTERS.
BECAUSE THAT IS BASICALLY
WHAT IS AT THE HEART OF THIS
PLAY.
SHE WANTS HIM TO TAKE THIS
RIDICULOUS APOCALYPTIC STORY
ABOUT RADIATION AND TURN IT
INTO AN ART FILM AND HE
WANTS TO MAKE A BIG GIGANTIC
MONEYMAKING BLOCKBUSTER THAT
HE CAN'T EVEN ARTICULATE
WHAT IT IS ABOUT.
I DON'T THINK WE EVEN
LEARNED.
>> SO IT VERY, VERY FUNNY.
AND BECAUSE IT IS TYPICAL
MAMUT.
SO QUICK AND THE LANGUAGE IS
SO FAST.
ARE YOU CONSTANTLY PULLED
ALONG.
>> I'M NOT A BIG FAN BUT I
LOVE THIS PRODUCTION.
MOSTLY BECAUSE THE ACTORS
WERE SO INSIDE THE ROLES AND
INSIDE THE LANGUAGE WHICH IS
I THINK PRETTY HARD TO DO.
BECAUSE IT IS ALWAYS
INTERRUPTING THE NEXT PERSON
AND GETTING TO THE NEXT
POINT.
AND THEY WERE SO FAST BUT
THEY ALWAYS KEPT THE MEANING
CLEAR.
>> YOU ARE, THAT IS WHAT I
LOVE ABOUT MAM ET.
I AGREE WITH YOU BUT I'M NOT
TYPICALLY A MAM -- MAM OUT
FAN BECAUSE I THINK HE LIVED
NEAR YOU.
HE REMINDED ME OF ANOTHER
PLAYWRIGHT WHO DOES REALLY
TOUGH PLAYS WITH TOUGH
SUBJECT MATTER THIS ONE IS
KIND OF TOUGH BECAUSE YOU
SEE CONTROL WRESTLING BACK
AND FORTH AND ARE THEY -- IS
ONE OF THE PRODUCERS GOING
TO BE ABLE TO SEDUCE THE
TEMP WHEN SHE COMES OVER.
>> USUALLY DECEIT IS ONE OF
HIS.
>> EXACTLY, SO UNCOMFORTABLE.
>> OR RICKY J SLEIGHT OF
HAND GUY, DID HE APPEAR
ANYWHERE.
>> WE WISH.
WE LOVED HIM.
>> DID YOU LIKE HIM.
>> I DO, I LOVE, I ONCE TOLD
HIM THAT HIS TRICK DIDN'T
WORK WHEN HE WAS SIT ON THE
SET WITH ME AND HE GOT
REALLY UP SET AND OF COURSE
I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID
ANYTHING.
>> BECAUSE I COULD SEE IT.
>> BUT MAMET IS BRILLIANT
WITH MALE CHARACTERS.
HE IS NOT SO GOOD WITH THE
GIRLS BUT IN THIS, BECAUSE
OF THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN
THESE TWO GUYS IT JUST
TERRIFIC.
>> WHAT FUNNY IS I HATED THE
SET ORIGINALLY BECAUSE IT IS
VERY PLAIN, VERY BASIC AND
GRAY AND DULL AND THEN I
REALIZED THAT THAT IS WHAT
IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE BECAUSE
YOU ARE REALLY DEALING WITH
THESE SOULLESS PEOPLE AND
THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS COLOR
IN THE PLAY IS THE TEMP, I
THINK IT IS A BLOUSE SHE IS
WEARING.
BUT GRAY, DRAB BUT
COMPLETELY BRINGS YOU IN.
>> TAMING OF THE SHREW WHAT
IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS
PRESENTATION.
>> I THINK IT IS GREAT THAT
THEY SET IT IN THIS BARROOM
BECAUSE IT UNFOLDS T IS
BASICALLY THEATRE IN THE
RESPONDENT AND IT UNFOLDS
ALL AROUND YOU.
AND SO THE ACTORS ARE COMING
IN FROM EVERY SIDE.
THEY ARE PLAYING POOL IN THE
BACK SO ALL YOU HEAR IS THE
POOL BALLS CLICKING BUT IT
SETS IS UP THIS VERY ORGANIC
FEEL.
I THINK YOU IMMEDIATELY,
AGAIN, WITH SETTING YOU FEEL
MORE COMFORTABLE BECAUSE OF
WHERE YOU ARE.
SO YOU IDENTIFY WITH THESE
PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT MORE
BECAUSE THEY ALL COME ON
ORIGINALLY, AND YOU CAN TALK
ABOUT IT, BUT THEY COME ON
ORIGINALLY AS JUST BAR
PATRONS WHO THEN EVOLVE INTO
ACTORS WHICH IS A
FASCINATING.
>> AND ARE THEY USING
SHAKESPEAREIAN LANGUAGE.
>> YES, IT IS DEFINITELY
SHAKESPEARE AND THERE IS AN
INITIAL SCENE IN THE PLAY
THAT OFTEN IS CUT, TO GET
THE PLAY MOVING FASTER.
BUT IT PLAYS ON WHAT IS REAL
AND WHAT'S NOT REAL.
WHO ARE WE SUPPOSED TO
BELIEVE.
WHOSE'S ACTING, WHO IS
ACTUALLY A REAL CHARACTER
AND IT'S WONDERFUL.
AND THE ONE WHO ASK GOING,
HE NEEDS A WIFE WITH MONEY.
BUT HE COMES IN AS A DRUNK.
AND THEN AS PART OF THE PLAY,
HE TAKES, THEY DRESS HIM UP
IN FANCY CLOTHES AND SAY
TELL HIM THAT HE IS A RICH
NOBLE.
AND THEN FROM THERE HE TAKES
A BOOK, THE SCRIPT AND
ACTUALLY READS HIS LINES
FROM THE SCRIPT.
AND THEN GETS INTO IF AND
THEN THE BOOK GOES AWAY AND
WE ARE IN PAT RUKEIO'S
WORLD.
>> I FIND IT FASCINATING
THAT SO MANY OF THESE
THEATRES DO ALL THIS
SHAKESPEARE TAKEOFF, YOU
KNOW, I FIND IT INTERESTING
THAT PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANT
TO STICK TO THE CLASSIC.
>> WELL, THE THING ABOUT
SHAKESPEARE IS THAT BECAUSE
HE IS ABOUT EMOTION AND
THESE REALLY COMPELLING
CHARACTERS, YOU CAN DO
ALMOST ANYTHING WITH IT AS
LONG AS YOU ARE CONSISTENT
AND AS LONG AS YOU STICK TO
THE BASIC EMOTIONAL JOURNEY
OF THE CHARACTERS.
>> I THINK IT IS PRETTY EASY
TO SLIP INTO, AT FIRST IT IS
ALWAYS YOU KNOW WITH THE
PHRASE GET YOUR SHAKESPEARE
EARS, IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT
TO ADJUST TO WHAT YOU ARE
HEARING.
BUT IT IS PRETTY EASY
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS WELL
DONE WHICH USUALLY THE
PIECES ARE EXTREMELY WELL
DONE IT IS FUN.
BUT THEY HAVE SOME
TONGUE-IN-CHEEK MOMENTS TOO
WHERE THEY ANNOUNCE WHICH
CHARACTERS ARE GOING TO BE
PLAYING MULTIPLE ROLES
BECAUSE OF BUDGET CUTS.
SO THEY INTERVEN A LITTLE
BIT BUT IT'S NOT GIMMICKY.
IT JUST KOOND OF WORKS.
IT'S FUNNY.
>> HOW ABOUT THE DEAD MAN'S
CELL PHONE, THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY CAN
IDENTIFY WITH.
HAVE YOU EVER LOST A CELL
PHONE AND TRIED TO GET IT
BACK FROM THE OTHER PERSON
AND IT'S ALWAYS SOME COOKY,
NULTY, DERELICT OR SOMETHING
ELSE.
AND YOU ARE NEVER DEALING IN
THE REAL WORLD WHEN
SOMEBODY --
>> WHERE ARE YOU LEAVING
YOUR CELL PHONE.
>> BELIEVE ME THIS HAS
HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE TO
ME AND MY DAUGHTER.
>> WELL THAT IS WHAT IS
INTERESTING.
YOU THINK ABOUT AFTERWARDS,
THAT CELL PHONES ARE
INTERESTING FOR THE FACT
THAT YOU CAN LIVE ON WITHOUT
THEM AND WHEN THIS WOMAN
PARACHUTES INTO THIS MAN'S
LIFE AND STARTS ANSWERING
FOR HIM AND SHE STARTS
ANSWERING HIS PHONE FIRST
LITERALLY, YOU DON'T EVEN
KNOW THAT HE IS DEAD.
SO SHE ALREADY STARTS TO
CONTINUE THESE RELATIONSHIPS,
SO IT IS SORT OF A MANIFESTO
ON CELL PHONES, ESPECIALLY
WHEN THEY ARE CONSTANTLY
BRINGING IN THEATRES WHICH
IT DID ON THE PERFORMANCE
THAT WE WENT TO.
AND JUST ABOUT EVERY ONE.
>> .
>> DID YOU LIKE THIS ONE?
>> I LIKED THE CONCEPT.
I THINK IS A GREAT CONCEPT
BUT I FOUND THE CHARACTERS
REALLY DIDN'T GET DEVELOPED.
AND SO THERE WERE STOCK
CHARACTERS.
THEY WEREN'T THAT
INTERESTING.
ITS WITH A GREAT IDEA BUT
NOT REALLY WELL EXECUTED.
>> WAS IT FUNNY?
>> SOME OF IT.
>> SOME OF IT.
>> THIS ONE FELT KIND OF
FLAT.
AND IT IS INTERESTING.
I LIKED THE PLAYWRIGHT, SHE
DOES AWESOME SORT OF
FANTASTICAL SEQUENCES.
WE FEATURED HER IN CLEAN
HOUSE AND AGAIN, SHE SORT OF
DEPARTS FROM REALITY HERE.
THIS TIME IT SEEMED TOO
CUTE.
>> I THINK THE DIRECTOR DID
A REALLY NICE JOB OF PULLING
THESE PIECES TOGETHER THAT
DIDN'T ALWAYS WORK.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS SO
MUCH.
AND THAT IS IT FOR GREATER
BOSTON.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO
CATCH A PREVIOUS SEGMENT LOG
ON TO OUR WEB SITE AT
GREATER BOSTON.ORG.
TOMORROW ON BEAT THE PRESS
FORMER STATE SENATOR DIANE
WILKERSON LOOKS TO HAVE HER
CASE DISMISSED OVER PRETRIAL
PUBLICITY.
THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 70
CLOCK.
I'M EMILY ROONEY.
GOOD NIGHT.
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