Sunday, August 31, 2008

It's here! Rogue Hypercast #1

Ladies and gentlemen, let me present to you the first ever Rogue podcast!

The podcast--or as we're calling it, Hypercast--features audio from the "Mr. Punch" talkback on August 24 with cast and crew from the show. Listen to behind-the-scenes stories, original music, and more!

The Rogue Hypercast is available on iTunes and wherever else fine podcasts are distributed. Thanks for listening!

Friday, August 29, 2008

Monday, August 25, 2008

Alan Cook's Review

Forgot to post this earlier, but here's a lovely review our friend Alan Cook (of the International Puppet Museum) sent out to his mailing list. It doesn't quite fit in our press archives, so I wanted to post it here.

Sean Cawelti has already posted the glowing review of the Rogues Artists production of their Punch show. Whatever the level of various reviewers enthusiasm, they ALL seem to agree on one thing--the high level of production values, and for this alone, the show is a "must see."

The L.A. Times review will undoubtedly carry the most weight, which should keep audiences coming. The Bootleg Theater space is a great improvement over the previous location of the earlier version of the show. The amount of group effort put in to this production is mind-boggling.

The show has remained faithful to the graphic novel source material. I had never specifically thought of a graphic novel having high production value in its own right, but so it is here, and the Rogues production has caught that on stage.

Some reviewers admitted to "mixed feelings" about the script, but that comes from the graphic novel, and it seemed important to remain close to the source.

In this Punch & Judy show, Punch is having a not-for-children romp in the hay with Pretty Polly, and the crocodile does not vanquish Mr Punch.

The punchman says something about probably ending his life in the workhouse--unfortunately, this was in keeping with historical accuracy. The Italian puppeteer (Picini) whose show was written down by Collier, illustrated by Cruikshank, and became a publishing phenomenon (being published in over 100 editions by different printers and becoming the "standard Punch script" for later Punchmen) did indeed end his life in the workhouse (aka the poorhouse).

I hope today's punchmen & women will fare better.

- Alan Cook

Saturday, August 23, 2008

At Punch on a Friday night in August

What a terrific night it was indeed! Special thanks go to Jesca Hoop who started our weekend off with a musical bang. I can't recommend visiting her website and seeing her live enough. We met Jesca through our friends Abby and Amanda, the Ditty Bops. The whole evening had the electric quality which was so very potent and made me feel happy to be there. Dylan a long time Rogue friend was in attendance, Simon helped at the bar with the usual Kerry and Jeff, Tom and Miles returned to their normal roles and all things seemed to be just as they should. Here are some photos (created via mac-technology) from the evening's events!






Monday, August 18, 2008

What happens when you spend too much time together...

Last night after Mr. Punch, Tyler (Rogue Assoc. Artistic Dir) and I (Rogue ensemble and staff member) went with some friends to have dinner (tapas, delicious). I left my car at the theatre and we drove together, which meant Tyler had to drive me back to the theatre to get my car after dinner. It was about 9pm.
As we made a U-turn onto the correct side of Beverly Blvd, John Nobori (Rogue ensemble member) and Shannon Goldsborough (Rogue staff member) drove past us and pulled into the driveway of the theatre. They were there because they had to pick something up.
As the four of us are standing around amazed that we caught each other at the same time, ANOTHER CAR with two Rogue associates drove up. They had forgotten to double check something on their way out of the theatre.

9pm. Six people. One theatre.

Mind Meld? It must be. How else could it happen that three independent cars of people arrived at the theatre, unannounced, after hours, for three different purposes?

I think I need a different hobby.