Interview with Playwright Chris Phillips (FringeNYC 2012 "Pieces")
Interview with Chris Phillips, Playwright of FringeNYC 2012 “Pieces” David Roberts and Joseph Verlezza Theatre Reviews Limited
Chris Phillips’ acclaimed new play “Pieces” recently completed its successful run at the New York International Fringe Festival and has been chosen to be part of the FringeNYC 2012 Encore Series. This prestigious Series is curated by a group of seven professional theatre producers led by Darren Lee Cole, Artistic Director at Teatro Jaco and SoHo Playhouse/Huron Club. Chris Phillips received the FringeNYC 2012 Overall Excellence Award for Playwriting. We sat down with Chris recently. What follows is our conversation:
David/Joseph: After seeing “Pieces” at FringeNYC, have you considered making any changes in the script?
Chris: All of my plays are works in progress. I’m still editing the first play I wrote. I am adding a short scene to “Pieces” as a result of conversation with the cast. Some felt the relationship between Rory (Jonathan Gibson) and Jonathan (Paolo Andino) remains unresolved at the end of the play and the new scene will attempt to resolve that.
David/Joseph: Do you typically collaborate with your cast and creative team about your scripts?
Chris: Yes. Although as the playwright, I have ownership of my work, I understand the script from my point of view only. It is important to experience the script from other points of view as well. Feedback is good. I know when it is helpful and when it is not.
David/Joseph: How would you describe your relationship to the cast and creative team of “Pieces?”
Chris: We are a family. We collaborate; we share our feelings about the work and about performances. We get along. When we were working on “Pieces,” we spent a great deal of time sharing our feelings about the content of the play. At one point, after discussing the different communities within gay culture, we were able to collectively “let go” of our stereotypes about gay men. A play like “Pieces” is inherently political and the politics surrounding the relationship between the straight community and the gay community and the differences that exist within the gay community itself need to be honestly addressed.
David/Joseph: Has “Pieces” received mixed responses from audience members?
Chris: Most of the response has been positive. However, there have been a few negative responses. I invite criticism of my work. Audience members briefly claim the play as their own for the brief time they choose to sit in the dark and contract to allow their disbelief to be suspended.
David/Joseph: Finally, Chris, how is living in Manhattan? Do you like the East Coast?
Chris: New York City and Manhattan in particular are inspiring me to work full time on the most challenging of my four works in progress. I love my neighborhood, I love where I live. Living in New York has given me new energy to create and to write.
David/Joseph: Thank you, Chris. We look forward to attending an Encore performance of “Pieces.”
All FringeNYC 2012 Encore performances of Chris Phillips’ “Pieces” take place at The SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam Street (6th Avenue and Varick Street) in New York, NY. Performance dates are Friday September 7th at 9:30 p.m., Sunday September 9th at 8:00 p.m., Wednesday September 12th at 8:00 p.m., Thursday September 13th at 7:00 p.m., Sunday September 16th at 8:00 p.m., and Monday September 17th at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/917443
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