killer joe: fin.
I know I've been absent lately.
I blame Killer Joe (that and doing some day job work at a computer-less desk).
However, I will just let you know that things are well.
We closed today. The show was an artistic and critical success (it took a financial loss, but we have donors who believe in us, so all is going to be ok). I am proud of the work we did. Not since Slag Heap have all the pistons fired together like this.
And, just so I can record them all in one place, here's the callboard responses.
Grant:
So, I've been sitting here for 5 minutes trying to figure out how to say how much I enjoyed this show, but everything just sounded too hyperbolic. So, I will simply say this........
Do yourself a favor. Go. See. This. Show.
There was no weak element to this show. Not acting, not directing, not design, not the set. Everything contributed to the show as it should.
Simply amazing.
Congrats to everyone in the show. Job well done!
...
porkchop:
Congrats on a good opening and fun post-show party! I really liked this show. A lot. Everything was spot on. Kudos to the cast, crew and Carin. (ooohhh three C's!). The storyline for Dottie really broke my heart. Well done all.
...
Number6:
Solid, solid work all around. This was a great show and a must see for everyone out there. The cast was spot on and Carin did some amazing work with them. The world that those characters live in is very real and completely pulls you in.
I've been looking forward to seeing this show for awhile because I'll be the first to admit that it wasn't my favorite play on the page but I really wanted to see what this group did with it. They exceeded expectations.
Also, congrats to the fight choreographer. He did some great work with what I can only imagine to be a difficult scene to block and small space to work in.
...
startwinklerz:
I echo everything Grant, Heather and Emma said better than I could, because I'm still processing the show and a little bit in shock.
What complex characters... and each actor pulled depth out of them.
Just an amazing show.
Go See It!!!!
...
Tiebs:
Yes, yes, yes!!
It was really fantastic. So much so that I don't really know how to express myself. However, if anyone is interested in going and needs a friend to go along, I'd be totally up for seeing it again. My brain was only able to process small amounts at a time because of the amount of wine I drank.
...
Tooch:
I really loved this show. It was very real to me throughout. Actually, a little too real for me at points.
See this show!
...
HowWasTheShow:
Saw it tonight. Wow!
(And it started at 7:30 and when I checked my watch in the lobby post-show it was only 9:20.)
And another Wow. What an freaking killer show.
...
Mikeyp:
Warning-
This show may make you crave KFC. That is all...
...
alaska:
To quote myself: "That's one fine piece of theatre."
...
brian:
It would be easy for this show to be sensationalist and tawdry, gory and vulgar. But instead this company has produced a work that is respectful of the text and humanity within it. The ugliness of the situations were not used for shock value but as a window into desperation. I liked this play and I really loved this production of it.
Thanks to Pro Rata for producing it!
...
Theoden_mcfancypants:
This was a very well-crafted show. Great choice of script to begin with, excellent acting all across the board, and the mood/pacing changes from scene to scene were handled wonderfully. I'm going to see this show a second time, which is something I don't often do.
...
Ryan Grimes:
Congratulations to the cast, crew, and designers for what I call a "complete" show. It was solid all-around, from stunning acting performances, cohesive direction, fabulous lighting, amazing sound, and the details of the set decoration floored me.
I loved it! Go see this show!
...
Shawn Ashley:
I've been trying to think of a way to say this because I don't want to just write, "I really liked this show!", like all puppies and flowers because this doesn't deserve that. I've been complaining with a couple of friends about how this town seemed to be doing a lot of the same shows over and over again (and this a blanket statement because, of course, not everyone is)and most of what I had been seeing was "fluffy". There are exceptions, of course. Bug a couple of years ago was fantastic, Knock! blew my mind, Parade, and Fat Pig, to name a few.
But this show was exactly what I was looking to go see. Raw, gritty, dirty, and filled with nudity and a girl giving head to a piece of chicken (genius!). It was almost like someone put a filter over it like one would on film, casting this grimy, STD-infested light on it. I would NOT sit down in that house. I might get the clap.
First of all, kudos to the entire design team. I enjoyed everything. (With the exception of the floor which seemed to be "cartoony" and out of place with the realistic set but as soon as the show got going, I ceased to notice.) Ms. Carin- YOU are amazing. Congratulations to you.
All of the acting was superb. Truly. Every single person was absolutely believable and was perfectly suited for their role. I thought each person did a fantastic job of developing layers to their character that made me want to learn more about them. I don’t know Katie at all, but I thought she was brilliant. Not for one moment did I think she wasn’t every bit this young woman, Dottie. And if I’m not mistaken, Dottie is a little “slow”, am I right? Actually, each character carried everything through the scene changes which I LOVED.
Kathy rocked. A beautiful, honest performance of this trashy, trying- to- be- devious -but -not -smart- enough- to- pull- it -off character. I loved her. And her clothes.
Clarence was just so natural and believeable that now I am a fan.
Zach Curtis. This is the least of what I have to say about his performance but that man knows how to act with his back to the audience. WOW. I have never known anyone to tell me exactly what they are thinking/feeling onstage with their back to the audience as much as Zach. I noticed this in The Music Man as well during the opening number on the train. I think I turned to Porkchop and said something about it. The rest of the performance was stellar as well. Not just his back.
Let me say, I do not know Sam Landman at all. I’ve never met Sam Landman. But I can’t help it, and I’m sorry to the rest of you, but he was my favorite. He played the role of Ansel so well- with the look of utter defeat in eyes at times like that of a man resigned to his lot in life…I LOVED him. I mean, how many times have I seen THAT guy as a bartender? I’ve met that guy a hundred times. He played it beautifully. And that jumpsuit thingy…
Point is: See this show before it closes. I believe you will remember this to be one of the best things that you have seen this year, in my opinion. And you will remember it. Especially if you are into that kind of thing. Which I am.
This does not fully voice how I felt about this show, because I have thought about it a lot since seeing it on Monday- and to me, this is one of the ways I judge how much I enjoyed something or how it effected me, is if I am still thinking about it for days afterwards. Like Boys Don't Cry or The Woodsman. But I thought it was just amazing. I'm rambling.
Great job, everyone. Congrats!
...
Lazarus:
Congrats to all involved...Amy and I enjoyed the show very much!
A fine ensemble effort...nuanced performances.
A special congrats to the entire design team for creating that crazy world.
Catch this one if you can everyone.
...
carolyn:
After seeing Killer Joe I said,
"WHAT?"
"That's fucked!"
"WHAT?"
"Awesome."
"What the hell is wrong with Tracy Letts?"
So, you should go see it today. The cast is really great, many kudos all around.
...
Tin Roof Rusten:
:
I also thoroughly enjoyed Carolyn's "Oh my GOOOOOOOOOD" in the blackout before curtain. CRACKED ME UP.
There's great talent on that stage, and its a show you won't soon forget. Do yourself a favor, and head on over and support 'em!
...
avitab:
the show has closed, and my post might be pointless except to the cast and crew, but that's fine.
after moving to the twin cities in late 2005, "machinal" was the first pro rata show that i was able to see - and ever since then, i've been a huge fan. i don't see that changing anytime soon.
carin - you have a gift. not only for choosing plays (and plays that i love - of which there aren't many, truth be told) - but for casting amazing performers (whom i also love, no matter what i see them in), and for your directing. hopefully this won't go to your head
you should all be uber-proud.
...
...
I am proud.
I'm proud of my cast, my crew, my designers, my company.
And I'm proud of me.