prepared for with your take on this sixty year old play?
MB - Whether the audience is highly familiar with the
show or has no clue what it’s about, I think there’s plenty of exciting reasons to see this show. The story is fun
and engaging and holds up exceptionally well over the
years. The themes of the show (the importance of sensitivity and understanding for others, the need for bravery to face an often brutal world with optimism, the
dehumanizing effects of greed, etc.) are also engaging
and incredibly vital, especially today. Also, the designs
and the performances for this particular production
will be savvy and top-notch: I’ve had the pleasure of
working with an amazing team of artists that everyone
should come and support.
IM – Any sort of changes to the script or specific direction to the actors?
MB - We haven’t tinkered with the script: we’ve strived to
stay true to the play and the playwright’s intentions. As
a director, I often thrive on reinterpreting classic plays,
but this time around, I felt it best to avoid any radical
directorial interpretation. That said, we have imposed a
subtle acting challenge on the show, where certain actors are utilizing a naturalistic acting approach for their
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characters, and three “outsider” characters, in complete
and startling contrast, are using a highly representational style of acting along the lines of slapstick, commedia dell’arte, or vaudeville. Hopefully this directorial
choice is less an imposition and more a subtle addition
to augment the heart and soul of the original play. I’m
confident, in the very least, that the audience’s will enjoy it.
IM – Any other remarks you’d like to make about The
Curious Savage?
MB - I suppose I would like to mention that I’m excited to premiere my first directorial endeavor at JSU. It’s
been a really pleasure to come to a new theater in a
new town and a new community and to dive right into
such a rewarding work. As such, I can’t wait for the JSU
and Jacksonville community to come share in the fun.•
The play will begin at 7 p.m. on Oct. 17, 18 and 19,
and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20 at the Stone Center’s
theater on the campus of Jacksonville State University. Tickets will be $5 for students, $10 for adults,
and $8 for faculty and seniors. For more information, call the ticket office at (256)-782-5648.
October 2013
INSIGHT