For those that didn’t have the pleasure to attend, two Saturday’s ago (sorry for how horribly slow I am at getting these out) the GWC hosted “8 Plays for the Price of One” at the Rocky Neck Cultural Center. To say that the night was a phantasmagoric conglomeration of some of the better things in life, is truly an understatement. The wonderful M. Lynda Robinson, a great playwright in her own right, had been leading a terrific workshop on writing a ten-minute play, and on that Saturday night we, the audience, were given our first glimpse into what that workshop has been doing.
“8 Plays for the Price of One” featured plays by Rory, Sara Stotzer , Susan Frey, Nick Neyeloff, Ann McArdle, Elizabeth Enfield, Linda Finnigan, Michael McNamara, and Shon Baldini. Actors at the performance included: Sally Nutt, David McCaleb, June Klewin, Brianna Quinn , and David Cluett.
"The GWC collaboration with Lynda Robinson is a great example of a working artist and the GWC working to create a unique opportunity for not only writers but for the community-at-large. It was great to see a full house." Said GWC co-founder Henry Ferrini. And indeed, it was a full house event that even required Henry, my wonderful and beautiful girl friend, and myself to haul in more chairs in from my car.
I spent my time at the back of the room, handing out programs and aiding my girlfriend, the beyond amazing Ashley Sullivan, with the cheese, wine, and various other food-stuffs. I would like to give a shout-out to anyone that brought food or drink, as they were greatly appreciated and all quite delectable. From the back of the room I witnessed the crowd laugh uproariously and tense with drama as the plays touched on all the key emotions that one would expect from good theater. The event was truly a blast.
Playwright Linda Finigan, who also just published a fantastic book on the 1960’s titled Love and War, had this to say about the event and its director; “It's a unique challenge to create characters and a dramatic arc in ten minutes. Lynda Robinson was an inspiration. She has a terrific ability to hone in on the strengths and weaknesses of each piece after a single class reading. Her dedication in working with everyone beyond the four sessions to create the staged reading was nothing short of amazing.” Finigan also said of the event that; “For a writer who spends lonely days in front of a computer, it's thrilling to have the reaction of an audience—to hear words you've written come alive in the hands of talented actors and an insightful director.”
The event, of course, stretched out even farther than the confines of the Writer Center’s community, as playwright Susan Frey pointed out. “The event was a successful collaboration on so many levels-for the Writers Center, for the Rocky Neck Cultural Center (first visit for many), for the playwrights (stretching out into unknown territory), the actors (essentially tapping into improv!), and not least, for Lynda Robinson whose talents and gifts I have been lauding for years and so happy she IS BACK in community theatre.”
For some plays the drama was intense, while others tended towards a more comedic approach
Overall the night was a huge success, and for those who are bumming for not having seen it, or not having taken part in the workshop, fear not, for the Lynda Robinson and the GWC are teaming up again for a Ten-Minute Play Writing Workshop Redux starting October 6th, so there will be another great night of plays to attend, and there might still be a spot open in the workshop.
Playwright Rory on right
Thanks again to Ms. Robinson and everyone that helped out with the event!