“Offending the Audience” will be the final play staged by Germinal Stage-Denver at its longtime home at 2450 W. 44th Ave. It runs Aug. 9-25, 2013. Call 303-455-7108 or go to www.germinalstage.com. Video by John Moore for www.CultureWest.Org. Running time: 1 minute.
By John Moore
Aug. 6, 2013
“Offending the Audience,” by Austrian Peter Handke, is sometimes called an “anti-play” because of its renouncements of theatricality.
From Wikipedia: In “Offending the Audience,” there is no plot. No story is being told at all. Instead, the audience is made aware that what they see is not a representation of anything else, but is in fact quite literal. The actors continuously repeat the point that this is not a play, and that nothing theatrical will happen.
WHAT THE HELL?
“Offending the Audience,” opening Aug. 9, will be the final production staged at the 40-year-old Germinal Stage-Denver’s 26-year home at 44th Avenue and Alcott Street in northwest Denver. Founder Ed Baierlein has gathered more than 40 iconic actors from every era of his theater’s history … and me … (for some still-unknown reason) … to perform it.
I posed many of these esteemed actors a single question: So what IS this play … in one word? You can for yourselves see how well they did with that strict assignment here:
Lawrence Allen and Melissa Pear: Mind-blower.
Linda Barner: Mobius strip. (Editor’s translation: “A two-dimensional object that can only exist in a three-dimensional space.”)
Eric Field:
In one word: Magnificent.
In two words: Magnificent And
In three words: Magnificent, Astonishing, Wild, And . . .
Samara Bridwell: Jarring.
Paul Caouette: Meditational.
Kristina Pitt Garner: Ornery. But as a whole, and not while trying to memorize lines, I would say: Significant.
Katharyn Grant: “Offending the Audience” is pretty much everything about existentialism that Mike Myers was making fun of in his landmark “Saturday Night Live” sketch, “Sprockets,” but without the monkey. Some of it is really funny to me; some of it hypnotizes me; some of it is deeply moving and profound. It is by far the weirdest piece of theater I have ever done or seen.
Lori Hansen: Insane.
Steve Kramer: In tribute to Laurie Anderson: Difficult Music.
Fred Lewis: Incomprehensible.
Lisa Mumpton: This is a love letter to the audience, and it is a love letter to theater and what theater is. It is saying, “You are why we are doing this.” … And it is frickin’ hard to memorize.
Ed Sampson: The script is an introduction to live theater, leading us carefully back to the present moment. Sort of like a gracious host at a party saying, “This is the now. Have you met?”
Erica Sarzin-Borrillo: Mind-twisting.
Penny Stames: Wordy. … (Sent to you by a flock of tiny pigeons in a tiny little box.)
Carol Timblin: As was said in the play “Amadeus” to Mozart: “Too Many Notes … ” (but in a good way).
Augustus Truhn: Condescending-ass-blood.
Suzanna Wellens: “It reminds me of a Noh play I saw in Tokyo. So my one word: “Noh.” Though I think it describes our production perhaps more than the script.”
Gina Wencel: Vexatious.
Diane Wziontka: A cliff.
“Offending the Audience”
Aug. 9-25, 2013
2450 W. 44th Ave., 303-455-7108 or germinal’s home page
Previous coverage:
Countdown to Closure: My blog chronicling the rehearsal process
Why dozens of Denver actors are oh so eager to offend you.
Germinal Stage-Denver: Countdown to Closure. The whole photo series to date, with some additional outtakes.
The complete story on Germinal’s decision to vacate its home.
How you can donate to the Denver Actors Fund
The new Denver Actors Fund is a modest source of immediate, situational relief when members of the local theater community find themselves in sudden medical need. Photo by John Moore. To donate to the Denver Actors Fund, please go here (with our humble thanks):
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