Another preview article for my historical farce “Philosophus” has been published in CultureSpotMC by author Lisa Cline.
CultureSpotMC is a news website focusing on community news for Montgomery County, Maryland.
Ms. Cline interviewed John Morogiello, Artistic Director of Best Medicine Repertory Theater (and actor in the show), Stan Levin, director of “Philosophus”, and yours truly.
The following is an excerpt of my answers to two of the author’s questions:
How do you know if what you find funny will “play” on stage to a diverse group?
Speer Crowley: One of the things I consciously tried to do with “Philosophus” is make the comedy very broad, rather than fitting a certain set type. I didn’t intend it just to be a Wildean parlor play filled purely with witty dialogue but little physical action, nor did I want it to be all Keystone Kops. I wanted to give the play a little bit of everything: some Oscar Wilde, some Benny Hill, some “Book of Mormon,” some Kaufman and Hart, all while throwing in some farce and even reaching back into burlesque/vaudeville. I think there’s something for everyone in the story, and it gives the actors a lot to work with.
When did you write “Philosophus” and what was your inspiration?
Speer Crowley: I wrote “Philosophus” in late, late 2015 and it was probably the quickest thing I’ve ever written. I (mostly) wrote it in between commuting to New York City (I live in Connecticut) over the course of two weeks.
The actual idea, I confess, predates that by about, oh…20 years. I came up with the idea of “Philosophus” when I was about 13 or 14 because I loved historical biographies and discovered the story through reading a book on Voltaire. I thought it was a great basis for a comedy because the entire affair was (almost) as comical and silly as the events in the play. (The shell of the story and the characters are all real, but most of the specifics are invented.)
I wrote a version of “Philosophus” way back then (unfit for human eyes, although I may let a dog look at it) and then decided to revisit the topic years later. I just had success with another comedic play which led me to reconsider doing more comedic work. I had never done a purely comedic play, so I thought this would be as good a time as any, and I continued to love the historical setting and the colorful, comic operetta-like characters.
Many thanks to Ms. Cline for her great article – which you can read in full here!
If you’re in the area, come by and take a peek!
