So I had a pretty interesting experience at the SF Playhouse’s production of Slasher the other day. I sat in the back row of the theater and fiddled on my phone… at the request of the people in charge. I was part of an experiment to see what happened when a group of people tweeted (as in Twitter) live from a show. I have no idea how it all worked out, and if you were following along I’d love to hear what you think. All things considered it sure was fun! There was something about the authority to comment live consequence free, not only about the show, but also about the entire experience around you (including the lady who thought the play was a slam poetry performance) that was very rewarding. But enough about that nonsense, on to the review!
The play Slasher is a sudeo-comedy that pits the feminist ire of a mother against the exploitation of a classic B movie slasher film. Sheena (Tonya Glanz) lives with and supports her wheelchair bound mother Frances (Susi Damilano) and little sister Hildegard (Melissa Quine) by working as a waitress. On her shift she meets film director Marc Hunter (Robert Parsons) who discovers that she is perfect for the role of the last girl to be murdered in his upcoming film. Sheena’a new job outrages her ulta-femisist and mentally unstable mother, and as Sheena shoots her movie her mother concocts ways to stop the chauvinistic film.
The story sounds pretty straight forward, but there are a ton subplots, such as the mother’s and the film director’s dark past, which were confusing and unrealized. In fact a huge amount of the plot seemed unmotivated, confusing and didn’t fit into the world that was created. This was the major problem with this production. The reality that the play created just didn’t fit the script. The play is a camp comedy and this production took it self too seriously. The play tried to exist in a “real world” while the script in all its insanity, plot twists, and outright ridiculousness called for something with much more imagination and artistic definition.
The play however does have some very funny moments, and the acting was very committed. The sets and costumes are also very well done, and some of the set changes were so quick and seamless that they take you by surprise. But in the end, the play is scattered, hard to believe and difficult to follow.
For This Play I’d Say: It’s funny, and it’s not executed poorly, but the production doesn’t use the camp to its advantage, and leaves you with a play that is confusing, distant, and unfulfilling.
“Slasher” By Allison Moore at The SF Playhouse, 533 Sutter Street San Francisco, CA 94102, through June 5. Info at 415.677.9596 or www.sfplayhouse.org
Following the tweet stream was cool because I felt like I was part of the live action of the play from moment to moment. At times, some of the “tweet” language was a bit hard for me to understand. Hearing that the show was about a mother and daughter’s experience of a “slasher play” peaked my interest more than my initial assumption that the play was just about a psycho killer!
I followed on Twitter and thought it was great! I love how they did this…made the show come alive for me and following it was interesting. I’m gonna check out a show there now.
Hey thats great! I’m really glad you got something from it & it’s really cool that it got you excited about the show. May I ask: How deal you hear about it? Who were you following during it? Were you following along live?