artattack Presents Another American Premiere
When Co-Artistic Directors, Nicole Isaacson-Hill, and Justin C. Lockwood first heard of Iain Heggie's outrageous comedy Wiping My Mother's Arse, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2001, they never would have guessed that they'd be producing its American Premiere two years later. Despite the fact that Wiping was at the top of all the reviewer's lists, Lockwood and Isaacson-Hill avoided it because of its surprising title. With five stars in both The Scotsman and the Sunday Herald, reviewers were describing Wiping "fast, funny and foulmouthed" (TES) and as having "hundreds of brutally brilliant laugh-lines" (The Scotsman). The reviews were so glowing that on their last day in Scotland, the husband/wife team decided that they couldn't ignore it any longer and went to the Traverse Theatre for a matinee performance. So astounded by the plays hilarity and intelligence, at intermission they were already planning an American Premiere, and by curtain call they already had it cast in their minds. Nearly two years later, that vision is coming to life. The American premiere of Wiping My Mother's Arse opens June 27 and runs through July 21, Fridays through Mondays at 8pm with Sunday matinees beginning at 2pm at the new artattack theater space 310 Oak St. in Ashland (former Cantwell's building).
One of Scotland's most important contemporary playwrights, Iain Heggie is the author of many plays, including an adaptation of Moliere's Don Juan, and is widely translated and distributed throughout Europe. His first play, A Wholly Healthy Glasgow, won the Special Prize in the1985 Mobil Playwriting Competition and was subsequently produced by the Royal Exchange Theatre, where he was Arts council Writer in Residence, before transferring to the Royal Court, London in February 1988. His play American Bagpipes received its American Premiere in 1989 with a production at the Soho Rep in New York.
Accurately described by The Guardian reviewer as a "bedpan farce," Wiping My Mother's Arse, lets us into the world of Andrene Macavenie, a cantankerous elderly lady, bordering on senility who was dumped in a nursing home by her ungrateful son Derek who left her with out saying goodbye. Thank goodness for her lovely gay care assistant, Larry, who always comes when she needs to use the bathroom, and who is completely sympathetic to her problems with Derek, because, as it turns out, Derek left him without saying goodbye as well. When Derek comes to sort out some financial matters with Andrene and introduce her to his fiancee, Kath, the comedy of situations begins. Following the advice of her favorite daytime talk show host, Shinane Shultz, Kath is determined to find out about Derek's past before she allows him to as much as kiss her. Kath and Larry are immediately drawn together by their mutual love of Shinane, but what Kath doesn't know is that Larry holds the key to a few secrets about Derek that are perhaps best left in the closet.
The Ashland production of Wiping My Mothers Arse teams local favorite Brandy Carson (Andrene) with artattack for the first time. "We have been fans of each others work for a long time, and when we saw this play we immediately knew that it would be the perfect vehicle to showcase Brandy in one of our productions" said Lockwood. A New York veteran, Carson was immediately taken by the script because it reminded her of her days in the Off-Off-Broadway playhouses. The cast also features Juliard graduate Michael Fitzgerald (Larry), a member of the ensemble for the past two years, ensemble member Elisabeth Cara (Kath), Justin C. Lockwood (Derek), founder and co-artistic director. "This script requires actors with seamless comedic timing as well as depth of character" said Director, Isaacson-Hill, "it is hard to find actors of such ability, but we did it. This guys are incredible."
Artattack theater ensemble presents the American Premiere of Wiping My Mother's Arse a caustic new comedy by Iain Heggie and directed by Nicole Isaacson-Hill opening June 27 and running through July 21 , Fridays through Mondays at 8pm with Sunday matinees beginning at 2pm at their new artattack theater space 310 Oak St. in Ashland (former Cantwell's building). Tickets are $17 Fridays and Saturdays and $15 Sundays and Mondays. A special "pay what you can" preview sponsored by The City of Ashland will be offered Thursday June 26. The box office is open two hours before each performance and tickets can also be purchased by credit card at http://www.artattacktheater.com/. Group rates are available for parties of 10 or more. For more information call (541) 482-6505-9815 or visit http://www.artattacktheater.com/.
Wiping My Mother's Arse by Iain Heggie Directed by Nicole Isaacson-Hill Featuring Justin C. Lockwood as Derek, Michael Fitzgerald as Larry, Elisabeth Cara as Kath, and Brandy Carson as Andrene
Dates: June 27-July 21 (Fri-Mon)
Times: All shows begin at 8:00 p.m., Sunday matinee at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Artattack theater venue 310 Oak St. Ashland, OR 97520
Tickets are available at box office 2 hours before each show and online at http://www.artattacktheater.com/
For more information, call (541) 482-6505 or visit http://www.artattacktheater.com/
photos by Jim Langhofer
art by incite design
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