Starting Gate Productions presents...
It's New Year's Eve. He's been robbed twice, his girlfriend is leaving, he's just lost his job...and the only one left to talk to is a gay burglar he's tied up in the kitchen.
Directed by: Richard Jackson
Featuring the Talents of:
Jairus Abts, Rose Johnson, Scot Moore, Julie Ann Nevill, Perry Thrun, Clarence Wethern, and Joe Wiener.
Set design by Tamatha Miller, Lighting and Sound design by Mark
Webb, Props by Katie Oliver, Costumes
by Carol Ann Winther.
November 3 - 26, 2006
Fridays - Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sunday Matinees at 2:00pm
PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE NO LONGER THURSDAY EVENING PERFORMANCES
Audio Described Performance - Sunday, November 19
Pay What You Can - Monday, November 13 (7:30)
All Performances are at the Mounds Theatre in the Dayton's Bluff neighborhood just east of downtown Saint Paul.
Tickets are $18 general, $16 students and seniors.
Call for tickets 651-645-3503
Press Section
Thoughts from the Director:
As a young gay man coming of age in the 70’s, I’d found there were few writers writing about me. James Kirkwood was one of the few of whom I was aware. In high school I’d read “There Must Be A Pony” and shortly after returning from an unsuccessful transplantation to New York City in 1980, I first read “PS Your Cat Is Dead”. As someone at the age of 21 still dramatizing failure, I felt my life was severely compromised. “PS” lifted me out of the doldrums and provided the lesson of life’s constant provision of opportunities. The fact that there was a potential male/male pairing was almost incidental.
I’d known it was a play, but had never realized that the play predated the novel until recently. I’d always hoped for an opportunity to act the role of Jimmy Zoole, but when I grew too old, “PS” went on the short list of plays I wanted to direct. When I was in my 20’s, I’d gift copies of the novel to close friends at Christmas. It is a story I’ve always wanted to share and I’m delighted with the opportunity.
Kirkwood has rewritten the play more than once and I’ve chosen to direct an earlier version of the script. In his most recent rewrites, the intrusion of a second group into the dynamic between our co-protagonists has been cut. I feel strongly that the ground that needs to be covered for Jimmy and Vito to move from combatants to compatriots requires this second intrusion from the outside to be believable. And, as always with comedy, the introduction of new characters infuses new energy and an abundantly funny scene.
This is not a gay play though it will undoubtedly be of interest to the gay community. Jimmy and Vito share their lives at a time when life’s got them down for the count. We’ve all been there and done that, though few of us in such comic circumstances. I hope everyone will come to see this play. I think it guarantees a smile.
~Richard Jackson
Promotional Photos
Press Photo: Mark Webb
Photo featuring Clarence Wethern and Jairus Abts.
Download the photo in High Res JPEG format below
or on the picture. Right Click and select Save As:
Press Photo
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