DCMetroCenterArts has published a good review of “Philosophus”!

Review: ‘Philosophus’ at Best Medicine Rep

The critic, Jennifer Georgia, dub deep, researching Voltaire a bit and appreciating the historical authenticity of the story:

“One of the remarkable things about Crowley’s play is how much of the farce is true. In 1753, Voltaire was journeying back to France (if he was fleeing persecution, it was a very slow flight) from the court of his former patron Frederick the Great of Prussia. He arrived in Frankfurt and was detained by Frederick’s agents, who were under orders to retrieve a document the king had given to Voltaire. His niece Marie arrived and was held with him, and had to fend off the unwanted advances of a guard. She and Voltaire were finally released after his luggage was ransacked and the offending item found.

In Philosophus this incident provides the fodder for High Farce. It supplies stock characters as old as the Commedia dell’Arte or even the Roman comic Plautus: the Cunning Thinker, the Stupid Servant, the Pompous Officer, the Lusty Soldier, the Buxom Maid, and the Greedy Harridan. These are all set upon each other in the broadest kind of comedy. It has chase scenes, mistaken identities, lost luggage, an overbearing old woman, an ogle-worthy young one, and duels with both wits and pistols. For those familiar with British comedy, it resembles Benny Hill meets the Enlightenment, or Carry On Philosopher.”

…

“Philosophus is a rib-tickling farce… Overall, it is a very entertaining evening at the theater.”

The first positive review for my historical farce “Philosophus” has been published by MD Theatre Guide by Susan Brall!

According to Ms Brall: The script is a cross between Mel Brooks (“Young Frankenstein”) and the Marx Brothers (“Duck’s Soup”).  If you love the ridiculous and lots of double entendres, you will have a good time at this production. 

…and yep, that about sums it up!

Check out the full review here!

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!

The Montgomery County Sentinel – the key newspaper of Montgomery County, Maryland – has a great article on the upcoming regional premiere of my historical farce “Philosophus” by Best Medicine Repertory Theater.

A few days earlier, I spoke with the article’s author, Barbara Trainin Blank, who, in her own right, is a well-regarded writer from the area who “has been writing features, previews, and reviews about theater and the arts for some 25 years.”

“Playwright devises screwball comedy out of the life of Voltaire”

If you’re interested in reading the article, you can check it out above.

I’m happy to say that we have another two reviews for “Philosophus!”

A review in the Buffalo Theater Guide, while not thrilled with one of the characters, called the show “an all-around funny show and fun time at the theater.”

Another great review by veteran reviewer, interviewer, and radio host Peter Hall in Buffalo Rising called the show “a solid rump… presented with high energy” and “delightful.”

Check out his good words below!

Another great addition – Mr. Hall is at the helm of a well-known and well-respected (if short) radio program on local station WBFO called “Theater Talk.” (The co-host of the show is the equally well-respected reviewer Anthony Chase.) Together, Mr. Hall and Mr. Chase spend 4-5 minutes chatting about theater in the Buffalo/Niagara area, devoting 30-60 seconds each week to four or five plays and/or musicals. This morning, they discussed “Philosophus,” again in very flattering terms – check it out!

Two reviews have come out for “Philosophus!”

First, Melinda Miller wrote a review for BuffaloNews, indicating she was not 100% thrilled with the farcical nature of the comedy, but yet declared the show “funny” and praised the great acting.

Second, Ann Marie Cusella wrote an extremely positive review of the show for the happening website, BuffaloVibes (although she did correctly chastise me a bit for areas where the script could be tightened).

Some highlights from her great review:

Mr. Crowley’s script is chock-a-block with witty dialogue, broad comedy, and is very, very funny. He expertly melds what appears to be complex thought with farce. However, I think some of the dialogue between the Baron and Frau Schmidt and the Frau and Voltaire could have been tightened up. At time the dialogue seemed a bit drawn out and detracted somewhat from the general hilarity. This is a minor glitch in an otherwise very well written script. 

…

Director of this production and Founder/Executive Director of Alleyway Theatre, Neal Radice, chose an outstanding cast for Philosphus. He keeps the action moving, the pratfalls coming, and highlights the particular skills of each of his actors while they chew up the scenery.

…

Philosophus is great fun. I enjoyed it thoroughly. You can see it at Alleyway Theatre until October 6th.

…

You can see the full review here!