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TastofBlue

Script by Edward Einhorn
Music by Henry Akona
Directed by by Edward Einhorn

At Walkerspace, 46 Walker St.

between Church & Broadway, two blocks south of Canal Street

February 22 – March 15

Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 8pm
with additional performances on Sunday Feb 24 at 3pm & 8pm

Tickets $18, Box Office: 212-352-3101 or Theater Mania


 

A pageant that decries “the stupidity and viciousness of all mankind,” this faithful, humorous adaptation of the cult classic is set in the Church of Bokononism, Vonnegut’s fictional religion. Presenting a Bokononist passion play, the members of the church sing, play instruments (trumpet, flute, guitar, clarinet and xylophone are among the repertoire), and enact Vonnegut’s politically resonant satire.  A model set, projected on the back wall of the “church” via live video, forms the backdrop to the action. 

It all starts when Jonah, a writer, delves into the history of a controversial invention (ice-nine) and winds up a witness to its destructive powers. Most of the lyrics for this new musical are taken intact from Vonnegut, who wrote numerous “calypsos,” or Bokononist prayers, alongside the prose. From “Ilium,” New York to the Caribbean island of “San Lorenzo,” the audience will follow Jonah as he hunts for the truth about atomic weapons, human nature, and the meaning of it all.

A WORLD PREMIERE

Blue Line

"A youthful, earnest and energetic show"
New York Times
 
"The new musical stage adaptation hews closely to the Vonnegut text and is a faithful, inventive, intelligent rendering of Vonnegut's classic...Standout performances include [Timothy McCown Reynolds] as John, a rationalist pulled into an increasingly irrational world, and the engaging and vocally accomplished [Horace V.] Rogers as the charismatic Bokonon."
Tribeca Trib
 
"[Vonnegut's] calypsos are the source for composor Henry Akona's lyrics but the music is all Akona and I really enjoyed it. It is played live by the actors on stage which makes for an impressive experience watching these folks step into a character and then pick up a guitar, trumpet, or xylophone and play...Mr. Vonnegut would have been pleased with this adaptation. Vonnegut fans will be pleased as well. Definitely check this one out."
nytheatre.com
 
"John Blaylock shines briefly as Ambassador Minton, delivering a quietly furious denunciation of patriotic holidays, and Michelle Rabbani invests Mona Aamons Monzano with sweet gravity."
The Village Voice
 
"This ingenious production...makes diverting use of a small camera focused on an intricate series of models (designed by Tanya Khordoc and Barry Weil) ...several actors stand out in featured parts, among them John Blaylock in dual roles as a laconic model-store owner and a cynical foreign-service attaché and Sandy York as a chirpy denizen of Indiana with big hair and replete with zeal for any Hoosier she encounters."
Backstage
 
"Even devotees of the book -- which relates how a substance called ice nine destroys the planet -- may be seduced...And [Timothy McCown] Reynolds' low-key perf is excellent bait. His nonchalance says he's unconcerned if we listen. He's just telling the truth, with or without our approval, and that makes him fascinating."
Variety


Blue Line
 
Production Personnel
Director Edward Einhorn
Musical director Henry Akona
Puppet/model design and contsruction

Tanya Khordoc and Barry Weil
(Evolve Company
)

Set design Amy Davis
Costume design Carla Gant
Lighting design Jeff Nash
Assistant lighting design/ model lighting Solomon Weisbard
Properties design Berit Johnson
Props Assistant Taylor Keith
Production Coordinator Alex Senchak
Technical Consultant Obadiah Savage
Set construction New City Scenic & Display, Inc.
Dramaturg Karen Lee Ott
Video consultant Ian W. Hill
Assistant director/ assistant musical director/ chreographer Tom Berger
Stage manager Amanda Anderson
Assistant stage manager Spencer R. Soloway
Publicity Emily Owens PR

Cast
Newton Hoenniker (percussion) Sean Allison
H Lowe Crosby, Cab Driver (guitar) Michael Bertolini*
Ambassador Minton, Jack (lead guitar)

John Blaylock*

Francine Pefko (percussion) Katherine Boynton
Bellhop Jerome Brooks
Dr. Breed/Breed Daryl Brown
Angela Hoenniker (clarinet, pennywhistle) Rosalynd Darling
Sandra (flute, ukele) Sarah Engelke*
Bartender (trombone) Andrew Haserlat
Woman 2/Chorus (flute) Sheila Johnson
Claire Minton (pennywhistle) Jenny McClintock*
Philip Castle (trumpet) Martin J Mitchell*
Julian Castle (upright bass) Paul Pricer
Mona Aamons Monzano (xylophone) Michelle Rabbani
John Timothy McCown Reynolds*
Bokonon Horace V. Rogers*
Woman 1/Chorus (viloin) Phoebe Silva
Chorus (bongo) Josh Silverman*
Papa Monzano (bass guitar, conga) Darius Stone*
Puppeteer Barry Weil
Hazel Minton (flute) Sandy York*

*member of Actors Equity Association