"It's really a play about a relationship, and it is a horror story." ~Sarah Parker
Photo provided by Sarah Parker
Actor and theater-maker Sarah Parker answers some questions about her upcoming role, the Frankenstein story viewed through a feminist perspective and most importantly is her show scary? Sarah will be featured in Gadfly Theatre Production's Final Frontier Festival: Horror, composed of six one-act plays that are queer and/or feminist centric. Sarah plays The Bride in "Belong Dead, " written by Andrew Rosdail and directed by Immanuel Elliott.
There are two sets of one-acts in the festival; you'll be able to see Sarah perform in Set A. More info about attending and tickets available through Gadfly Theatre Productions.
There are two sets of one-acts in the festival; you'll be able to see Sarah perform in Set A. More info about attending and tickets available through Gadfly Theatre Productions.
Meet Adam. Dr. Frankenstein's first creation. More commonly known as The Monster or maybe The Creature. Many of us have...
Posted by Gadfly Theatre Productions on Thursday, June 25, 2015
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Why were you drawn to be a part of the Final Frontier Festival?
SP: I've worked with Gadfly before, and I like that they approach playmaking with their audience in mind. They're specifically and deliberately showcasing stories that are underrepresented in media at large, so that's why I auditioned. Once I got the script [to "Belong Dead"] I was just amazed at how well the Frankenstein story lends itself to a conversation about abusive, codependent relationships, and as an actor that dynamic is really interesting to explore. What do you think will be the most surprising for audience members who attend "Belong Dead?" SP: I think they'll be surprised at how the show changes their opinions of these characters, who are already staples in pop culture. There are a lot of iterations and reimaginings of Frankenstein's monster in movies and literature, but really only one quintessential image of The Bride, and she never appears except in relation to him, as an accessory. I was surprised to realize that I had never seen her as depicted with any thoughts or opinions of her own. In this show, she expresses herself as an individual, and that's actually a completely new way to see her. |
Who do you recommend attend "Final Frontier Festival: Horror?"
SP: Maybe not small children or people who are triggered by representations of physical violence or domestic violence. Other than that, I think most people should go! "Belong Dead" is a huge conversation starter, and given Gadfly's track record with choosing socially relevant scripts, I think the other pieces will be too. The creepy modernization of "Frankenstein" will be appealing to anyone who likes sci-fi, video games, or anything with a superhero/supernatural bent, so I think it reaches pretty far beyond a traditional theatre audience. The message of the show will definitely appeal to feminists, but I also think it has appeal for groups who can sometimes misunderstand feminism, like some members of the gaming community and other subcultures of "geekdom."
SP: Maybe not small children or people who are triggered by representations of physical violence or domestic violence. Other than that, I think most people should go! "Belong Dead" is a huge conversation starter, and given Gadfly's track record with choosing socially relevant scripts, I think the other pieces will be too. The creepy modernization of "Frankenstein" will be appealing to anyone who likes sci-fi, video games, or anything with a superhero/supernatural bent, so I think it reaches pretty far beyond a traditional theatre audience. The message of the show will definitely appeal to feminists, but I also think it has appeal for groups who can sometimes misunderstand feminism, like some members of the gaming community and other subcultures of "geekdom."
How does collaboration with other artists and arts organizations impact your art?
SP: You really can't do much in theatre without collaborators, so the people I work with completely shape the kind of art I make. It's really important to me to work with smart people. Lately I've been working with a lot of artists who I hope will comprise a wider circle of like-minded co-conspirators. Gadfly is comprised of really smart artists who care about doing some of the same type of work I like to do, and this is the second time I'm joining them for a show. I'm also currently collaborating on a Fringe Festival show with Burntail Arts, and the conversations and work we're doing in rehearsal is so stimulating. I'm really proud to say that my favorite artists are my friends!
Is this scary?
SP: Is my show scary? It's definitely creepy, but it's not scary in a traditional sense. It's about Frankenstein's monster and the Bride of Frankenstein. The obvious connection to the horror theme is that they're both movie monsters, but the dynamic between The Bride and Adam is really the "horror" part of the the show. It's scary, and it's a much more believable type of scary, because so many women have experienced abusive, stalking behavior from their partners. The way Adam views the Bride is really scary. It's really a play about a relationship, and it is a horror story.
Favorite quote from your show?
SP: I'm a big fan of the exchange that references the title:
Adam: We belong together.
The Bride: We belong dead.
SP: You really can't do much in theatre without collaborators, so the people I work with completely shape the kind of art I make. It's really important to me to work with smart people. Lately I've been working with a lot of artists who I hope will comprise a wider circle of like-minded co-conspirators. Gadfly is comprised of really smart artists who care about doing some of the same type of work I like to do, and this is the second time I'm joining them for a show. I'm also currently collaborating on a Fringe Festival show with Burntail Arts, and the conversations and work we're doing in rehearsal is so stimulating. I'm really proud to say that my favorite artists are my friends!
Is this scary?
SP: Is my show scary? It's definitely creepy, but it's not scary in a traditional sense. It's about Frankenstein's monster and the Bride of Frankenstein. The obvious connection to the horror theme is that they're both movie monsters, but the dynamic between The Bride and Adam is really the "horror" part of the the show. It's scary, and it's a much more believable type of scary, because so many women have experienced abusive, stalking behavior from their partners. The way Adam views the Bride is really scary. It's really a play about a relationship, and it is a horror story.
Favorite quote from your show?
SP: I'm a big fan of the exchange that references the title:
Adam: We belong together.
The Bride: We belong dead.
Final Frontier Festival: Horror
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Gadfly Theatre Productions
July 10-19, 2015 FFF Set A: 7/10, 7/12, 7/18 "Gone" "Hell's Bed 'N' Breakfast" "Belong Dead" FFF Set B: 7/11, 7/17, 7/19 "Lace Curtain Irish" "Abscission" "Dragula" |
All performances located at Nimbus Theatre in NE Minneapolis.
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