Photos by Brud Giles
The cast of pen/man/ship, from left to right: Charles Grant, Tamera Lynn, Vin Shambry, Tonea Lolin, Adrian Roberts, Andrea Vernae and DeLance Minefee
|
|
The voyage is nearly complete
|
|
There are only FOUR performances of pen/man/ship left.
Here's an excerpt:
The play is symbolic and powerful. Even though the setting is 1896, the core theme of destroying darkness by exposing it is timeless. And certainly the issues of racial discrimination and elitism are just as relevant today. pen/man/ship is also exquisitely written. I wished I'd brought a notebook so I could write things down, especially pretty much everything Ruby said.
The cast was also exquisite. Adrian Roberts created the role of the hard-headed, imposing, but still infinitely vulnerable Charles at pen/man/ship's world premiere in San Francisco. His performance in this production is masterful, as you would expect from someone who has been engaging with and refining a character for a couple of years now.
I was especially impressed with Andrea Whittle as Ruby Heard. She is a force be reckoned with! Whittle is a recent graduate of the Portland Playhouse Acting Apprentice program, but she holds her own on the stage with an actor of Roberts' experience just as well as her character holds her own with the overbearing presence of Charles.
DeLance Minefee and Vin Shambry were also well cast as, respectively, Jacob (Charles's son) and Cecil (an accordion-playing member of the crew who provides company and comfort to Charles after everyone else has deserted him).
Pretty spot-on, as far as we're concerned.
So, remember - only FOUR performances remain. The show ends its run March 5.
But what a run it's been.
|
|
Call (503) 488-5822 for tickets or reserve online
|
|
Food, friends, drinks and drama
|
|
Do you have plans on March 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.? Well, you could - come hang out with us.
We're hosting "Rise & Shine," a ce
lebration brunch benefiting the Playhouse community. It's going to be a chance to share memories as we honor our historic church for the last time before its renovation.
In short, it's going to be the biggest party we've ever thrown - and now we have more details!
We'll be day-drinking - think mimosas and Bloody Marys - thanks to Tito's Vodka.
As for entertainment, we're going to hold off revealing everything just yet, but here's what you can definitely expect:
Participation in the curation of materials to be included in a time capsule that will be placed somewhere in the Playhouse for future opening? Check.
Lounging in a speakeasy, in which your singing talents are showcased? Yup.
Listening to an opera performance? Sure.
Experiencing a virtual reality presentation of what this space will become, courtesy of SERA Architects? Absolutely.
Plus, because kids are welcome - which might be a blessing given we'll be moving clocks ahead an hour that day due to daylight saving time - we'll be conducting a children's theatre camp guided by Tamera and McKinley, a couple of our Acting Apprentices.
Act soon, though. Tickets - $100 each or $1,000 for a table of 8 - are going fast. We hope to see you all there.
|
|
The 2016-17 Portland Playhouse season is presented by Harold Goldstein & Carol Streeter, and Ronni Lacroute
pen/man/ship is sponsored by The Boeing Company, Ann Brayfield & Joseph Emerson, Jess Dishman, Michelle Mark & Michael Ecker
Our work is made possible by
Mary & Don Blair, Ellyn Bye, The Collins Foundation, Kinsman Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust,
James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, Raymond Family Foundation, Judy Shih & Joel Axelrod, State of Oregon, Phillip Terranova, Steve & Elsie Weaver,
Wrather Family Foundation
, Friends of Sandra Zickefoose, Oregon Arts Commission, Regional Arts Culture Council and Work for Art
|
|
|
|
|
|
|