Anyone Can Whistle wacky Sondheim musical opening weekend by Reboot Theatre at Theatre Off Jackson. Performing until 3/23/24. Stay tuned for my full review!
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Bloodletting play by Pork Filled Productions at Theatre Off Jackson directed by Zenaida R. Smith. Filipino story about Aswangs with a queer spin. I felt like I was back in the Philippines! #Aswang #showsiveseen #theatre #palawan
Recommendation
See it if you want to reminisce about the Philippines
Synopsis from the Theatre: Under the watchful moon, estranged siblings Farrah and Bosley reunite in the Philippines to spread their father’s ashes in Palawan’s treasured underground river. They take shelter from a storm in a local café, where they open old family wounds and encounter an aswang, a Filipino vampire, who awakens in Farrah an ancient, terrifying, and innate power. Will she embrace her new-found power? Or let it destroy herself and her brother?
Attended Performance Date: 10/20/23 (Opening Weekend) – See my previous preview posts here.
Type: Play
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Few
Several or Few Settings/Locations: Few
Static (Stationary) Set: Yes
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You should be familiar with Aswangs. The program contains a good explanation. People who don’t know what Aswangs are (sadly me) and who didn’t read the Aswangs article (me again) might struggle understanding what an Aswangs is when watching this play. The theatre’s synopsis touts them as “vampires,” but that word is too limiting. But I guess there isn’t a western term that encompasses this Filipino concept.
Defined Plot/Storyline: Mostly yes, but there’s only so much that can occur with few scenes/locations
Equity Actors: 0
Total Number of Actors: 4
Perceived Pace of the Show: Slow, especially with the large amount of dialogue. However, it did help to have fight scenes where the Aswang used their power.
Length (Including Any Intermission): 2 hours
Was there an intermission?: Yes
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show: Yes
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: No
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts
Scenic Design: The stage accurately portrayed what a typical eatery might look like in the Philippines in the middle of nowhere. It had thatch-like bahay kubo flair.
LeeLee: I probably enjoyed Anna Mulia’s portrayal of LeeLee the most. She portrayed mystery, youthful energy, and a good impression of a Pinay born in the Philippines.
Audio: The sound effects were well-timed and well-chosen.
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
Blood: For a play called “Bloodletting,” I thought there would be more blood!
Theatre Company: Pork Filled Productions
Venue: Theatre Off Jackson
Venue Physical Address: 409 7th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
Ticket Affordability Options: You can self-select “access pricing” on the ticketing website.
Dates: October 19 to November 4, 2023
Seating: General Admission
Parking: Paid street parking is usually available north of the theatre on the hill close to the park. You can also try free parking on Jackson Street closer to the I-5 bridge. As usual, there are paid parking lots nearby as well.
Bloodletting play opening weekend by Pork Filled Productions at Theatre Off Jackson. Performing until 11/4/23. Stay tuned for my full review! #showsiveseen #theatre #palawan #Philippines #Aswang
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Peter and the Starcatcher play (adapted from the book) with Reboot Theatre Company. Fun origin story of Peter Pan starring Rhys Daly, Mariah Lee Squires, and Karin Terry. Strong, energetic acting and vocal projection.
Synopsis from the Theatre: Peter and the Starcatcher playfully explores the depths of greed and despair… and the bonds of friendship, duty and love. A young orphan and his mates are shipped off from Victorian England to a distant island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They know nothing of the mysterious trunk in the captain’s cabin, which contains a precious, otherworldly cargo. At sea, the boys are discovered by a precocious young girl named Molly, a Starcatcher-in-training who realizes that the trunk’s precious cargo is starstuff, a celestial substance so powerful that it must never fall into the wrong hands. When the ship is taken over by pirates – led by the fearsome Black Stache, a villain determined to claim the trunk and its treasure for his own – the journey quickly becomes a thrilling adventure.
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You’d probably enjoy this more if you’re familiar with the Peter Pan story.
Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes
Live Band/Orchestra: The actors played the ukelele, trumpet, kazoo(?), and guitar during a few numbers. There were 1-2 songs with piano accompaniment, but I couldn’t determine if it was live or recorded.
Equity Actors: 0
Total Number of Actors: 15
Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium to fast
Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.25 hours
Intermission Included: Yes
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show: No, I saw this at ArtsWest when I first moved to Seattle. But there were many scenes/elements in this production that I don’t remember from the ArtsWest production. Maybe I’m getting older…
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: Probably not … it’s a well-written show but two times is enough for me
Recommendation: See it, especially if you enjoy British-inspired humor/acting.
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts
End of First Act: The song before the intermission was a grandiose showstopper, which is impressive for a show that’s not even a musical!
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
Narration: The narration was in the style of the actors narrating each other’s actions or their own actions. It reminded me of many past plays produced by the recently-closed Book-it Repertory Theatre.
Theatre Company: Reboot Theatre Company
Venue: Theatre Off Jackson
Venue Physical Address: 409 7th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
Price: Cheap
Ticket Affordability Options: You can self-select the $5 inclusion rate option on the website
Dates: September 8 to 23, 2023
Seating: General Admission
Parking: Paid street parking is usually available north of the theatre on the hill close to the park. You can also try free parking on Jackson Street closer to the I-5 bridge. As usual, there are paid parking lots nearby as well.
Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and video below
@showsiveseen "Peter & the #Starcatcher" #play (adapted from the book) with Reboot Theatre directed by Riley Gene. Fun origin story of #PeterPan starring @Rhys, Mariah Lee Squires, & Karin Terry. Strong, energetic acting, & vocal projection. Photos by Colin Madison. Review: showsiveseen.com/6573 #showsiveseen#theatre♬ past life – elijah woods
Role
Name
Ted
Henry Behrens
Mrs. Bumbreak/Sanchez
Kendra Tamär Budd
Grempkin/Mack/Prawn
Rolando Cardona-Roman
Boy/Teacher
Rhys Daly
Bill Slank/Clam
Anamaria Guerzon
Prentiss
Morgan Gwilym Tso
Smee
Jayne Hubbard
Alf
Helene Minassian
Ensemble/Understudy
Adrian Prendergast
Ensemble/Understudy
Monty Rozema
Lord Aster
Dan Ruiz Salvatura
Captain Scott
James Schilling
Molly
Mariah Lee Squires
Black Stache
Karin Terry
Ensemble/Understudy
Miles Wingett
—
—
Director
Riley Gene
Playwright
Rick Elice based on a novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Peter and the Starcatcher play by Reboot Theatre Company. Opening weekend at Theatre Off Jackson. Performing until 9/23. Stay tuned for my full review!