| “I'm not suggesting that the play is without fault; all of my plays are imperfect, I'm rather happy to say --- it leaves me something to do.”- Edward Albee |
I couldn’t think of a better way to start off this director’s note than with a quote from a playwright whose name is so maligned and
misused in Squiggllydickler, but can so easily describe what you’re about to see tonight, and the reasons for its changes.
I have been working on Squiggllydickler now for more than three years, and for the most part it has been a very rewarding
experience. I’m entertained by the struggling decisions I get to make such as whether a joke is still funny the 400th time I’ve heard
it or not, if a scene is working and moving forward the plot, or if a character should even exist at all to help further the story. If
any of you are familiar with our original 2006 production, you’ll probably notice that some characters have disappeared entirely.
That hasn’t been without question or consequence, but the play is better served without them. Scenes from the original show have
been cut or removed completely and have been replaced by better and sometimes more outrageous dialogue. I’ve joked that this
version of Squiggllydickler is not your two-years-ago-self’s version, and it really isn’t. But, this is the final version of
Squiggllydickler as far as I’m concerned. To me, it is the superior version to any other before it.
The hardest part for this cast, this time and last, were the notorious script changes I kept making, trying to make the play better
and stronger. “It hasn’t all been easy, but it comes with its perks.” Hearing various takes on scenes has been extremely helpful in
what is working and what isn’t. Also, the fresh blood in the cast, brought by: Brian Deatley, Tyler Bryant, Donald Gehres and
Daniel Bragdon, has certainly helped give different ideas on their respective characters. And then there is the incomparable Bob
Brown, who with his hilarious characterization of the Narrator can take my simple two-dimensional dialogue and make it the
funniest thing you may have ever heard. This cast, and crew, is the hardest working group of people we could bring together for
this production.
And with good reason, we all come together tonight. On May 1, 2007, I lost my brother, Zachary. As anyone could tell you, who
knew us when we were younger, we fought (as most brothers do) all the time. But, as we both matured, we grew closer (as most
brothers do). To have him taken away so soon is completely unfair to the world, because no matter where Zachary went, he
always tried to have a positive attitude and worked to make everyone happy. I dedicate this production to Zachary’s memory, for I
think he truly loved this show. While he was stationed in Iraq, I sent him a copy of Squiggllydickler on DVD for him to watch.
Imagine my surprise when he informs me that not only does he enjoy it, but that it has become regular viewing for his entire squad.
I am very proud of Zachary, and what he chose to do ... I will never be so brave.
- Benjamin Gullett
misused in Squiggllydickler, but can so easily describe what you’re about to see tonight, and the reasons for its changes.
I have been working on Squiggllydickler now for more than three years, and for the most part it has been a very rewarding
experience. I’m entertained by the struggling decisions I get to make such as whether a joke is still funny the 400th time I’ve heard
it or not, if a scene is working and moving forward the plot, or if a character should even exist at all to help further the story. If
any of you are familiar with our original 2006 production, you’ll probably notice that some characters have disappeared entirely.
That hasn’t been without question or consequence, but the play is better served without them. Scenes from the original show have
been cut or removed completely and have been replaced by better and sometimes more outrageous dialogue. I’ve joked that this
version of Squiggllydickler is not your two-years-ago-self’s version, and it really isn’t. But, this is the final version of
Squiggllydickler as far as I’m concerned. To me, it is the superior version to any other before it.
The hardest part for this cast, this time and last, were the notorious script changes I kept making, trying to make the play better
and stronger. “It hasn’t all been easy, but it comes with its perks.” Hearing various takes on scenes has been extremely helpful in
what is working and what isn’t. Also, the fresh blood in the cast, brought by: Brian Deatley, Tyler Bryant, Donald Gehres and
Daniel Bragdon, has certainly helped give different ideas on their respective characters. And then there is the incomparable Bob
Brown, who with his hilarious characterization of the Narrator can take my simple two-dimensional dialogue and make it the
funniest thing you may have ever heard. This cast, and crew, is the hardest working group of people we could bring together for
this production.
And with good reason, we all come together tonight. On May 1, 2007, I lost my brother, Zachary. As anyone could tell you, who
knew us when we were younger, we fought (as most brothers do) all the time. But, as we both matured, we grew closer (as most
brothers do). To have him taken away so soon is completely unfair to the world, because no matter where Zachary went, he
always tried to have a positive attitude and worked to make everyone happy. I dedicate this production to Zachary’s memory, for I
think he truly loved this show. While he was stationed in Iraq, I sent him a copy of Squiggllydickler on DVD for him to watch.
Imagine my surprise when he informs me that not only does he enjoy it, but that it has become regular viewing for his entire squad.
I am very proud of Zachary, and what he chose to do ... I will never be so brave.
- Benjamin Gullett
| “Your source material is the people you know, not those you don't know, but every character is an extension of the author's own personality.” - Edward Albee |
