Tonight was the final performance of my play “Encore, Encore” at Southeastern Louisiana University and I couldn’t be happier with the production.
Director Jeff Polito did a wonderful job directing the piece. He totally grasped my vision of the characters and deftly used lighting and sound effects to marshal the audience through various flashbacks in Dorothy Parker’s life. He also deserves kudos for giving the actors creative space to add great spontaneity between their characters.
Set and lighting designer Steve Schepker did a stupendous job as well. He crafted a set that was more fluid and moveable than anything I have ever seen used for the play (makes me rethink my original “black box” vision). His lighting design also expertly transitioned the audience from the “present” to the “past” with subdued skill.
Madison Paulus was a very dedicated, focused stage manager (as well as a great tour guide!).
…and, of course, what can I say about the actors? Angela Garritt brought witty power and verve to her role as Dorothy. Matthew Dale Carona gave a super-charged performance as Eddie Parker and nailed the full rainbow of his character’s emotions like no one else could. Taylor Sinclair charmed the audience as Robert Benchley with a quirkiness that cannot possibly be surpassed (and, additionally, did some wonderful comic tidbits with Neal Eli as Robert Sherwood). Bennett Cockerham was a “fabulous” Alexander Woollcott and William Hyde, Shelly Sneed, and Duncan Martin added great comedy and flare.
Above all, thank you to Southeastern Louisiana University – especially professors Jim Winter and Chad Winters – for arranging the festival and making everything possible! It was tricky for a little bit (a good ol’ Louisiana rainstorm interrupted the planned performance schedule) but all went well in the end.
Kudos to SLU for their dedication to new work!
