Cruel Theatre
Principles of Falling
Principles of Falling - Using the exceptional, only known to Cruel Theatre one-actor-one audience member format, this performance dealt with Right to Privacy, Gay Marriage and Civil Unions. How can we help loving who we love? --once you fall, nothing can stop you. Performances began at Coffee Talk and went on through several bars, restaurants and car parks in the area. The cast of Principles of Falling included: Danel Verdugo, Kathy Hunter, Alvin Chan, Moses Goods, Nicolas Logue, (often with a special guest appearance by Harry Wong III)
The structure of this particular one-actor-one-audience-member performance involved: (as usual) an audience member arrives at the makeshift box office and receives a costume piece and card telling them what their name is. The audience member would enter Coffee Talk and the actor recognizes his or her audience member by the costume piece. Each actor began each private, individual show every 30 minutes, in groups of 3. One actor’s performance would last anywhere from 50 minutes to an hour and 10 minutes (depending on the audience member.) (So, for example, Nick/Kathy/Moses begin at 8pm, group 2 at 8:30pm etc). Scene break downs were, roughly 1.) audience member/primary actor scene 2.) audience member/primary actor + audience member/ primary actor (4 person scene) 3.) audience member/primary actor 4.) audience member/primary actor + another actor (3 person scene). This scene was in a car, with Taurie driving in character 5.) audience member/primary actor 6.) audience member/primary actor + audience member /primary actor scene (4 person scene). The order of the scenes varied, depending (sometimes scene 4, the 3 person car scene, was scene 2, etc.)
The structure of this particular one-actor-one-audience-member performance involved: (as usual) an audience member arrives at the makeshift box office and receives a costume piece and card telling them what their name is. The audience member would enter Coffee Talk and the actor recognizes his or her audience member by the costume piece. Each actor began each private, individual show every 30 minutes, in groups of 3. One actor’s performance would last anywhere from 50 minutes to an hour and 10 minutes (depending on the audience member.) (So, for example, Nick/Kathy/Moses begin at 8pm, group 2 at 8:30pm etc). Scene break downs were, roughly 1.) audience member/primary actor scene 2.) audience member/primary actor + audience member/ primary actor (4 person scene) 3.) audience member/primary actor 4.) audience member/primary actor + another actor (3 person scene). This scene was in a car, with Taurie driving in character 5.) audience member/primary actor 6.) audience member/primary actor + audience member /primary actor scene (4 person scene). The order of the scenes varied, depending (sometimes scene 4, the 3 person car scene, was scene 2, etc.)
Andrea/Agave
Andrea/Agave (with Kumu Kahua Dark Night) - Using documentary sources (transcripts and interviews) along with excerpts from the “Bacchae”, Andrea/Agave told the story of Andrea Yates, the severely mentally ill woman who drowned her five children. This first incarnation of Andrea/Agave was extremely well received by the audience. However, it only ran for three nights. The cast was: Nicolas Logue, Harry Wong III, Danel Verdugo, Kathy Hunter, Jeremy G Pippin and Christy Hauptman.
Woyzeck
Woyzeck (with Kumu Kahua Dark Night) - Buchner’s masterpiece with the unwritten execution ending added, told in a collage of memories; actors behaved as wild animals between transforming in and out of character. (Expressionistic and Brechtian techniques). The cast of Woyzeck included: Brent Yoshikami, Nicolas Logue, Lisa Nielsen, Danel Verdugo, Reb Beau Allen, Justin Young and Shawn Thomsen. Over 60 hours of research went into the preparation of this production.
On his death bed Buchner said, "We can never have too much pain, we can only have too little. We are death, dust, ashes, how can we complain?"
Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme
Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme (with Kumu Kahua Dark Night) - Frank McGuinness wrote this play about eight Protestant Irish men who fight in World War I at the battle of the Somme. Actors with different ethnicities, nationalities and accents clothed in Gulf War uniforms reinforced the universality of McGuiness’ work of genius. When the play opened seven ghosts played football; at the closing of the play, the final character onstage--Piper--joined in their game. The only real props were the soccer ball and the orange sashes--both of which united the men. (Probably the most “straight” production in the history of Cruel Theatre….)
The cast for Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme included: Gilbert Molina, Craig Howes, Brent Yoshikami, Nicolas Logue, Derrick Brown, Chris Doi, Alvin Chan, Stephen Quinn and Frank Katasse
The cast for Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme included: Gilbert Molina, Craig Howes, Brent Yoshikami, Nicolas Logue, Derrick Brown, Chris Doi, Alvin Chan, Stephen Quinn and Frank Katasse
