The Fever

Fort Point

August 2008

A nameless person from a privileged world, suffering from a sense of disconnection from his (or her) comfortable life, travels to a country in the midst of civil war. Suddenly deliriously ill, the narrator collapses in a hotel bathroom and confronts an internal chorus of conflicting voices: dreams of comfort, images of physical and economic violence, accusations of indifference, and cold-blooded arguments in favor of oppression. The central question: what, if anything, is a morally consistent way to live in the world as it is?

In this rendition of The Fever, under the direction of Ken Rus Schmoll of New York's Quiet Laboratory, actor Doug Lockwood tackles portraying this haunted traveler. Since 2002, Lockwood and Schmoll have staged this eerily timely play in numerous private homes in New York, Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. They have also maintained the monologue's intimacy while presenting it in larger venues, such as the New Repertory Theatre, Veggie Planet, and the Old South Meeting House. This production was the 48th.

Wallace Shawn is an Obie-winning playwright and a noted stage and screen actor. His play The Designated Mourner was made into a film starring Mike Nichols, Miranda Richardson, and David de Keyser. Mr. Shawn's other plays include My Dinner with André, co-written with André Gregory, and Our Late Night.

Gods, Monsters, and the Other

June 27-June 28, 2008

Midway Studio, Fort Point

photos by Daniel J. van Ackere

THE LINEUP

Cantaloupe, an abstract work by New York City's Gina Bonati and directed by Ronit Muszkatblit, features three characters, One, Oh, and Wee. Also central to the “plot” are a knife, a melon, and a whole lot of juicy stage blood. This play might also be called The Secret Life of Melons.

The Greening of Bridget Kelly, by Peter Snoad of Jamaica Plain and directed by Jason Slavick, is a comedy/drama about a teenage climate change activist with a dark secret and revenge on her mind. In the confessional,  she tells her priest more than he wants to hear. Especially when it comes to his homegrown organic tomatoes. World Premiere.

Lonely Ignorance, by Mary Driscoll and directed by Vanessa Vartabedian, is the biography of a grandmother living with HIV disease. Driscoll drew forth this story and many others for “On with Living and Learning,” a nonprofit she founded to provide a long-awaited voice in the artistic world to women living with HIV/AIDS. Driscoll is a member of Fort Point Theatre Channel.

The Romantic, by Silvia Graziano of Watertown and directed by Dawn Simmons, is a tragicomedy of obsession—and necrophilia. Overtaken by grief when his young wife dies, Elliot digs up her body from the grave so they can preserve their “life” together forever—or at least until Eliot is forced to face the other skeletons that no longer want to live in his closet. A World Premiere by Fort Point Theatre Channel's resident playwright. 

Sammy’s Game, by Christopher Lockheardt of Andover and directed by Tara Wiseman, is a tightly woven fairy tale of two people from very different backgrounds. Together, they search for family, the drunk for the child he lost, the rich woman for the father who ignored her. “Human-acted” world premiere. Previously produced with shadow puppets by Fitchburg’s Shadow Box Theatre.

Sightlines, by Toronto-based Charles Hall and directed by Tara Wiseman, brings together Sonny, a freelance male escort on his first outing, with David, a blind man whose life has been limited to a few blocks between his dark room and his job. When David answers Sonny’s “slave to love” ad, cherry LifeSavers help them both discover the world with new eyes and ears. New England Premiere.

ONSTAGE IN "GODS, MONSTERS, AND THE OTHER"

Richarda Abrams, Jim Barton, Tony Brooks, Shelley Brown, Sam Cohan, Dee Crawford, Lisa Caron Driscoll, Rachel Garris, Becca Lewis, Allen Phelps, Aimee Rose Ranger, Jason Tamborini, Dayenne Byron Walters, Lia Wright

BACKSTAGE IN "GODS, MONSTERS, AND THE OTHER"

Sylvie Agudelo (House), Gina Bonati (Playwright), Kevin Buzzell (Crew), Mary Driscoll (Playwright), Silvia Graziano (Playwright), Charles Hall (Playwright), Milton Lau (Set Designer), Amy Lee (Lighting Designer), Christopher Lockheardt (Playwright), Jenn Martinez (Costume Designer), Marc S. Miller (FPTC Artistic Director), Ronit Muszkatblit (Director), Dan Osterman (Crew), John Randell (Stage Manager), Jason Slavick (Director), Dawn Simmons (Director), Peter Snoad (Playwright), Nick Thorkelson (Graphic Design), Michael Tyrrell (Crew), Daniel J. van Ackere (Production Manager), Vanessa Vartabedian (Director), Sandra Vieira (Props Designer), Sarah E. Wall-Randell (Stage Manager), Mark Warhol (Sound Designer), Nicole White (Crew), Tara Wiseman (Director)

ABOUT "GODS, MONSTERS, AND THE OTHER"

Conformity and nonconformity are defined by political, economic, and social power. Today’s heresy or deviance can be tomorrow’s average—or dogma. GMO looks at our best and our darkest sides in a celebration of the quest for understanding ourselves and the magnificence of human beings.

The behavior of a so-called deviant is a reminder that a society constrains its members within very narrow margins. We are allowed to meet our most basic needs—such as how to express love or satisfy the universal craving for intimacy and understanding—in certain circumscribed forms. Radical departures from the acceptable may confront us with some of our own deep, hidden desires.

According to the teachings of Buddha, for a person to become perfect, two qualities must be developed equally: compassion and wisdom. GMO finds its inspiration in questions about those who may be outside the mainstream at a particular moment. What motivates them? Can they change to conform? Should they? What do the rest of us share with those who today think or act in ways that differ fundamentally from those around them? Why do we go to great lengths to deny something deep within ourselves?

Exclamation Point 3!

An Evening of Short Works from Fort Point Writers and Friends
Produced by Silvia Graziano

photos by Daniel J. Van Ackere

On March 14, 2008, Fort Point's Flour Bakery + Cafe opened their doors to the third Exclamation Point! The evening featured poetry by Cynthia Bargar and plays and play excerpts by Gregory L. Farber, Peter M. Floyd, Lawrence Goodman, Silvia Graziano, Stacey Lane, Ron Pullins, M. Lynda Robinson, Karen Karin Rosenberg, and Ed Valentine.



Exclamation Point 2!

An Evening of Short Works from Fort Point Writers and Friends
Produced by Silvia Graziano

Photos by Daniel J. van Ackere

On November 14, 2007, FPTC's second informal evening of readings featured the work of Cynthia Bargar, Gina Bonati, Michele Corkery, James Mercuri Dooley, Kelly DuMar, Kurt Cole Eidsvig, Angie Elm, Silvia Graziano, Amy Demas Grunder, and Meron Langsner. The event took place at Midway Studios, Fort Point, Boston.



365 Days / 365 Plays

On November 13, 2002, Pulitzer-prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks got an idea to write a play a day for a year. She began that very day, finishing one year later. The resulting play cycle, called 365 Days/365 Plays, is a daily meditation on an artistic life. Some plays are very short, less than a page. Others last forever. We presented Week 49 during Fort Point Open Studios, at locations throughout the neighborhood.

Cast (from left): James Crosby, Christine Walsh, Molly Kelleher (director), and Jon Doherty

The 365 National Festival Hundreds of theaters have joined a grassroots premiere of the plays in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Colorado, Greater Texas, Los Angeles, Minnesota, New York, Northeast, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Southeast, Universities (365U), Washington DC Area and Western US. For information go to: 365days365plays.com. Produced by Bonnie Metzgar and Suzan-Lori Parks.