Justin Blake Broido and Nick Martin in cal and grey. Photo by Amber Fox LaCasse
Interview with the Cast of “cal and grey” Interview by David Roberts and Joseph Verlezza Theatre Reviews Limited
On Wednesday August 14th, we sat down with playwright Becca Schlossberg and director Madeleine Rose Parsigian whose new play “cal and grey” has its final two FringeNYC performances on Thursday August 22nd at 3:00 p.m.; and Saturday August 24th at 7:45 p.m. With us also were the two actors who star in this remarkable play: Justin Blake Broido (Cal) and Nick Martin (Grey). We (hereafter: TRL) began the interview by asking:
TRL: How has the process developed since the performances of “cal and grey” began on the second day of the New York International Fringe Festival?
Justin and Nick: We have become more collaborative – as a cast and creative team. Madeleine has definite ideas about how the play should be performed but she is open to our input as actors. This collaborative spirit has been a real gift and has motivated us to further break down our characters.
TRL: Nick, you are on stage when the audience comes into the theatre: what are you doing during that time to prepare yourself and the audience for the beginning of the play?
Nick: I use the time for Grey to create his world, emptying the craters of their contents and using them to delineate my world inside the orphanage. By the time I stack the crates and sit on them, looking out the window, the space is ready – the world has been established.
TRL: What goals do you have for the play and for yourselves as the process moves forward?
Becca: I would like to share “cal and grey” with more people. I definitely want it to move forward andbe performed in the future.
Madeleine: “cal and grey” is part of a trilogy and I look forward to what follows this play. It is exciting to see this production as part of something larger.
Nick: I want to keep the momentum of the process going and the momentum of this production.
Justin: I’d like to see a more detailed set; I’d like the bathroom to be perhaps more realistic. It would be interesting to see how a different set might affect our performances and the overall feel of the piece.
TRL: What is one thing you like about this play and this particular production at Teatro Circulo?
All: We love challenging the audience, exposing them to Cal and Grey’s world, their worlds. The play is cathartic for us and for the audience. We want the audience to care about Cal and Grey and what is happening to them and how it affects them. We want to make a connection.
TRL: Thank you. We hope the remainder of the run is successful.
CEOExpress
