Opening weekend for ‘The Hen Night Epiphany,’ by Irish playwright Jimmy Murphy, takes place March 21st – 24th at the Wade James Theatre in Edmonds, produced as part of the Driftwood Theatre of Intriguing Possibilities (TIPs).
Why does that matter to Fremonsters? Well, the show is being produced by Arouet Productions and directed by Roy Arauz, who brought ‘Frankie & Johnny In The Clair de Lune’ to Stone Way and the DownStage in 2011.
Now, March 28th through April 6th, Arouet Productions will bring ‘The Hen Night Epiphany’ – its cast, crew, sets, props, costumes and broken bbq – to Fremont’s doorstep, returning to the DownStage Theatre at 4029 Stone Way N.
Taking The Show On The Road
After three performances on the more polished, suburban stage of the Driftwood Theatre, set designer Chris Cannon and stage manager Renée Cyr will load the show’s paraphernalia into a van (and Cannon’s small car) and cart the show to the Center of the Universe. “I roll with the flow,” Cannon allowed, “I have so much fun doing this. It’s going to be easy to transport.”
Cannon did muse that while she isn’t worried, maybe she should be. Yet, after speaking with her, Cyr and technical director Roger Huston, it is easy to understand why director Arauz has confidence in the capability of his largely volunteer crew.
This is good, because Arauz has had to focus on bringing to life what appears on the surface as a light work about a bachelorette party (a ‘hen night,’) while inside the story lay secrets, denial, and revelations of pain-filled (and painful) truths.
When Productions Combine
As its mission, Arouet Productions brings together works that speak of civil rights, tolerance, freedom of and from religion, social justice and the celebration of our differences. With this play, and through a promotional partnership of the local 501(c)3 organization DAWN (the Domestic Abuse Women’s Network,) this theatrical company has once again assembled for audiences an evening both entertaining and enlightening.
“When I read it, I knew who I wanted,” to cast, Arauz explained, “and they all said yes!” A character-driven piece that requires skillful acting, ‘The Hen Night Ephiphany’ is told in a matter-of-fact style that flows from comedy to drama, and back again, in the Irish style. “Every tough scene is followed by comedy,” Arauz reported, “It is what makes it so rich.”
Through the TIPs program, the Driftwood Theatre and producer Carissa Meisner Smit, has provided a richer experience for theatre-goers too. “I feel she is bringing almost fringe shows to the suburbs,” Arauz said.
TIPs deliberately books lesser known, high-quality works onto the Wade James Theatre stage – bringing limited runs of sophisticated plays to a location more accessible and attractive to those reluctant to breech the big city. Placed on the Driftwood calendar between the main stage productions of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ and upcoming ‘Godspell’, ‘The Hen Night Epiphany’ will give Edmonds audiences an unfamiliar, fresh, and rare opportunity.
Also, by co-producing ‘The Hen Night…’ with Arouet Productions, the production company can do more with its limited resources. “It allows me to do two shows this year,” Arauz explained, while it raises awareness about live theatre resources in Edmonds and in Fremont.
When Two House One
“I went in and measured,” Cannon said casually about her work creating sets for one play on two entirely different stages. “It is amazing what she has been able to do,” Huston praised Cannon. “This is a natural progression for Chris.”
Cannon has had limited experience as a set designer, but she does bring a heap of experience from the ‘real world,’ along with an impressive, and palable, determination to do the very best possible work on anything she puts her mind to. Cannon demures, declaring, “it really is an easy set,” while Huston pointed out, “it will be pretty well decorated,” and then joked, “also, if you get in Chris’ way, you get shoes on your back.”
The play’s action has the women cleaning the ‘dream cottage’ of the bride-to-be, requiring a prop-heavy set. For a design, an easy, visually interesting sight would be the considerable stage of the Wade James Theatre filled with junk, but Cannon and Huston instead chose to cut the space with masking curtains to make it match what they have in Fremont. From a stage 45’ wide and 35’ deep, the show will move to the DownStage – a more ‘intimate’ space – with a 25’ back wall, and 12’ of depth provided front row audience members don’t sprawl in their seats (this is why you will find me in the second row.)
As technical director, Huston will help with the move from Edmonds to Fremont, but then he returns to his work as Managing Director at Theater Schmeater. From there, as Stage Manager on ‘The Hen Night Epiphany,’ Cyr will really run the show, and she seemed willing, even given the slightly more funky, less well-funded facilities of the DownStage.
“The blocking isn’t specific,” Cyr said, so her need to get actors to meet their marks won’t be as difficult in a more carefully choreographed play. “It should pretty well work,” she said, of her responsibility for the actors, their marks, their lines and their parts, plus all the light and sound cues. She actually sounded confident. “They are all very talented actors,” she said.
“We will set up the set on Driftwood,” Huston observed, “and set up at [DownStage] a week later.” For those who want to compare, the Wade James Theatre is a nice road trip from Fremont – and, after that, walk over to the DownStage for another evening of quality, live entertainment on Stone Way.
Tickets, at both theaters, will cost $14 per person. Purchase tickets for the Driftwood Theatre through their website, and for the DownStage through Brown Paper Tickets.
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©2013 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.