SAVAGE/LOVE
by Sam Shepard and Joseph ChaikinSundown Collaborative Theatre
PROUDCTION STAFF
Director and Set Designer: Cody Lucas
Assistant Director: Robert Linder
Stage Manager: Irvin Moreno
Filmed and Edited by: Tyler Lucas
Lighting Designer: Natalie Taylor
Producing Member: Sarah Quiroz
MUSICAL ACCOMPANIENT
Paradise Road:
Vocals, Guitar: Zaire Adams
Bass, Guitar: Vinay Badhiwala
Drums: Dane Ernst
CAST
Sal: Zane Harris
Stella: Kim Nall
Reviewed Performance: 4/28/2011
Reviewed by Laurie Lynn Lindemeier, Associate Critic for John Garcia's THE COLUMN
A diamond in the rough theatre experience.
A dozen people sat on metal folding chairs on April 28th at the Green Space Arts Collective in Denton and experienced a solid hour of intense emotions before them on the stage. Yes, it was enjoyable albeit emotionally draining, but isn't love? Savage/Love, that is.
The play title seems to be an oxymoron, however, anyone who's experienced a summer romance or exchange student fling knows young love can be just this kind of passionate roller coaster.
Zane Harris and Kim Nall, two talented young actors, played Sal and Stella respectfully, and crafted a powerful portrayal of a relationship. Their vehicle to do this was Savage/Love, a series of nineteen intimate poems by Sam Shepard and Joseph Chaikin. The sultry music provided by Paradise Road at preshow and interspersed throughout helped the flow and continuity of the drama.
We listened to folksy blues-like music before the production began as we sat in a dark space with black curtains and sparkling white lights on either side. At center stage a bed with a striped thrift store like spread sat, and above it sprawled a white sheet screen with "Paradise Road" projected onto it. Tyler Lucas filmed and edited the video portion of the play which was overlapped with the live acting in an effective way.
In the story the two characters meet eyes in the post office, then in a crowded bar, and develop a relationship. In the short span of "theatre time," their communication breaks down and the partnership wilts. In the end we don't see a butterfly develop from a worm, but we do see a relationship go through a complete cycle. The poetry was poignant and beautifully acted. Both actors showed so well how one becomes willingly na?ve when falling or even sinking into love.
Upon leaving the theatre I felt a strange kind of validation about the pursuit of that perfect relationship. The hurt and joy of love performed before me on that small community theatre stage for only sixty minutes was encouraging and made me actually glad to be one of the mammals that produce not only tears but smiles. This fast paced drama was masterfully directed by Cody Lucas and his assistant Robert Linder.
The bedroom scene was not distasteful, but was quite explicit, so one should know that this is an adult only play.
Ms. Nall's song toward the end was haunting. She has lovely soft tones and a beautiful melodic line. I was glad to hear the band's volume finally toned down to an appropriate level for the size of the room at that point. However, I quite enjoyed their selections and original songs.
I related to the frustration of the would-be poet, Sal, as he attempted to find just the right words to scribble into a love poem in his little black book. His character seemed frantic for love and almost psychotically desperate for partnership. Stella clung to him in a totally dependant way, yet stood her ground once she realized the relationship had soured. Their passionate embraces and longing looks depicted the excitement of new love and was acted with tenderness and heart.
This experimental play which closes May 7th, is perfect for theatre buffs. I took it in the same way as I digest an abstract painting, knowing that there is no attempt at realism. Savage/Love is an impressionistic tone painting of feelings and a nice diamond in the rough for a community theatre production.
A dozen people sat on metal folding chairs on April 28th at the Green Space Arts Collective in Denton and experienced a solid hour of intense emotions before them on the stage. Yes, it was enjoyable albeit emotionally draining, but isn't love? Savage/Love, that is.
The play title seems to be an oxymoron, however, anyone who's experienced a summer romance or exchange student fling knows young love can be just this kind of passionate roller coaster.
Zane Harris and Kim Nall, two talented young actors, played Sal and Stella respectfully, and crafted a powerful portrayal of a relationship. Their vehicle to do this was Savage/Love, a series of nineteen intimate poems by Sam Shepard and Joseph Chaikin. The sultry music provided by Paradise Road at preshow and interspersed throughout helped the flow and continuity of the drama.
We listened to folksy blues-like music before the production began as we sat in a dark space with black curtains and sparkling white lights on either side. At center stage a bed with a striped thrift store like spread sat, and above it sprawled a white sheet screen with "Paradise Road" projected onto it. Tyler Lucas filmed and edited the video portion of the play which was overlapped with the live acting in an effective way.
In the story the two characters meet eyes in the post office, then in a crowded bar, and develop a relationship. In the short span of "theatre time," their communication breaks down and the partnership wilts. In the end we don't see a butterfly develop from a worm, but we do see a relationship go through a complete cycle. The poetry was poignant and beautifully acted. Both actors showed so well how one becomes willingly na?ve when falling or even sinking into love.
Upon leaving the theatre I felt a strange kind of validation about the pursuit of that perfect relationship. The hurt and joy of love performed before me on that small community theatre stage for only sixty minutes was encouraging and made me actually glad to be one of the mammals that produce not only tears but smiles. This fast paced drama was masterfully directed by Cody Lucas and his assistant Robert Linder.
The bedroom scene was not distasteful, but was quite explicit, so one should know that this is an adult only play.
Ms. Nall's song toward the end was haunting. She has lovely soft tones and a beautiful melodic line. I was glad to hear the band's volume finally toned down to an appropriate level for the size of the room at that point. However, I quite enjoyed their selections and original songs.
I related to the frustration of the would-be poet, Sal, as he attempted to find just the right words to scribble into a love poem in his little black book. His character seemed frantic for love and almost psychotically desperate for partnership. Stella clung to him in a totally dependant way, yet stood her ground once she realized the relationship had soured. Their passionate embraces and longing looks depicted the excitement of new love and was acted with tenderness and heart.
This experimental play which closes May 7th, is perfect for theatre buffs. I took it in the same way as I digest an abstract painting, knowing that there is no attempt at realism. Savage/Love is an impressionistic tone painting of feelings and a nice diamond in the rough for a community theatre production.
SAVAGE/LOVE By Sam Shepard and Joseph Chaikin
Musical Accompaniment by Paradise Road
Sundown Collaborative Theatre at Green Space Arts Collective
529 Malone, Denton, TX 76201, www.sundowntheatre.org
May 5-7 @ 8pm
$10 general admission, $8 students/seniors
Payment by cash or check only. To pay by credit card or to
reserve tickets, please call 214-729-0313 or email:
boxoffice at sundowntheatre dot org
Musical Accompaniment by Paradise Road
Sundown Collaborative Theatre at Green Space Arts Collective
529 Malone, Denton, TX 76201, www.sundowntheatre.org
May 5-7 @ 8pm
$10 general admission, $8 students/seniors
Payment by cash or check only. To pay by credit card or to
reserve tickets, please call 214-729-0313 or email:
boxoffice at sundowntheatre dot org
