Participants in this year’s Playfest, credit: Courtney Calkins and Red Curtain Foundation
The Red Curtain Foundation held its 2nd annual “48 hour Playfest” in which plays are written, directed, and performed in 48 hours. This year, they had 50 participants coming together to make six unique and never before seen shows. The acts on display range from comedy, drama, to even one musical! Before they could make their shows, everyone was given the theme: “topsy turvy,” a prop they had to use, and a line of dialogue that every show had to use. The line was, “Some Cause Happiness Wherever They Go; Others Whenever They Go.”
The six shows in order were: Finding Sweetie by Alison Reeger, Flying Blind by Mike Pieckiel, The Game is The Same by Jay Jenkins, Floating the Canyon by Kevin DeFord, It’s U by Jack Tronsdal, and April Fools by Elena Naskova. My top pick on which was the best had to be Floating the Canyon; not only because it was a musical given the limited time, but because it made me cry. It hit close to home since my father had passed but two years ago. On the other hand, April Fools had me laughing. Great performances from the actors and sharp lines. Sad to say The Game is The Same was my least favorite though, throughout the whole thing I just got more and more confused. One could have passed it off as an unreleased David Lynch script and I wouldn’t have been shocked.
It’s impressive what folks can come up with and make in such a short amount of time. This just goes to show that our local community is brimming with creativity. So, if you wish to be a part of the next 48 hour playfest you’ll have to wait till next year, but in the meantime you can join or volunteer at the Red Curtain! If you want to help but can’t spare the time you can still help them by going to Coconut Kenny’s this Friday and Saturday (24th and 25th) and dine out, the money raised will help our local theater and keep Marysville a beautifully unique town.
Below are this year’s winners:
Favorite Script: Kevin DeFord "Floating the Canyon"
Favorite Director: Kiera Stevens "April Fool's"
Favorite Staging: Codie Wyatt "Floating the Canyon"
Favorite Team: "April Fool's"
Favorite Costumes: "April Fool's"
Favorite Use of Props: "The Game is the Same"
Favorite Actors: Blaire Smith and Susan Bachmann, both from "April Fool's"
Favorite Use of Theme (Topsy-Turvy): Mike Pieckiel "Flying Blind"
Road Trippers' Awards: Vincent Farrar and Gwendolyn Price (drove up from Humboldt, CA)
Funniest Moment: Blaire Smith seductively eating a rose in "April Fool's"
Most Unexpected Moment: The birdcage twist in "Finding Sweetie" by Alison Reeger Cook