throwback thursday| 2013-2014 season retrospective

Our 2014-2015 season has come to a close, and it hasn't taken us very long to get nostalgic.  Here's a  Throwback Thursday retrospective on our 30th anniversary season.

THE FOREIGNER

COMMUNION

TOP TEN THOUSAND OF ALL TIME

CHRISTMAS PRESENCE

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

SIDESHOW

THE SEAFARER

OLD TIME GOSPEL RADIO HOUR

ESPRESSO

espresso | costume design

In a show like ESPRESSO, the costume design can come across as deceptive in its simplicity, but there is still a lot of time and thought that goes into the design.  Below are the preliminary research pictures our designer, Naomi Sider, came up with, as well as some of her thoughts on what she wanted to do with the designs.

Some notes from Naomi on the final design:

For Lucia's first dress, I wanted to bring in some vibrant colour. The set is full of metallic colours and hard edges, like the world Rosa sees that is suddenly dangerous for our fragile selves. In contrast to that, I chose for her a bright teal colour that is a flowy rayon. In the midst of Rosa's crisis she is a living, sensual being. The colour choice seemed like it was meant to be when we found the exact shade of green-blue in our shoes.

For the second dress, the colour was determined by the script. Some design decisions for that dress came from the functional necessities of being dressed onstage by another actor. It could not be fussy. The simple lines ensure that Rosa is the focus of our attention, and they reflect her grief.

espresso | more photos

More photos from ESPRESSO!

espresso | responses

"This incarnation of Espresso was a first time experience for my friend and me. As the applause subsided and the actors left the stage, we sat silently for a good five minutes before we could bring ourselves to leave. Yes, we actually wished that Lucia and Robert would return to the stage immediately after the curtain call to ‘play’ the play again. This is truly the mark of an extraordinary theatre experience. Lucia and Robert’s characters moved through each other like quicksilver, round, full and fearless. Espresso exposed family complexity’s raw nerve and explored the minefield negotiation of our profound relationships, lost and found. Lucia is a Canadian playwright whose voice rings as strong as the espresso in the cup." | Cheryl Mullen, patron (website comment)

"It doesn’t get much better than this." | Paul Durras, BC Book World

"Go for Frangione’s poetry that falls like ripe fruit from a tree. Go for the humour; there’s plenty of it. Go for the taste-bud teasing references to all that Italian food; it’s the next best thing to being in love and in Italy. And then go home and dance with whomever is there: your lover, your kids, your dog, your cat." | Jo Ledingham, JoLedingham.com

"Lucia Frangione’s Espresso is a pure, generous gift that reduced me to tears. It’s also one of the best arguments for Christianity I’ve encountered... Espresso’s heart is so pure. Nowhere is that more evident than in Frangione’s performance. Vivid and compassionate in every character, she delivers her story with the sincerity of an offering." | Colin Thomas, The Georgia Straight

"The actors are tremendous at playing this multi-character drama. They don and discard personas quickly and with apparent ease. They draw attention to the craft of acting and remind us all people are pretty much the same underneath: human beings in need of love." | Michael Groberman, The Huffington Post

"Frangione’s use of the English language is satisfying and unsettling at the same time. Not too many words, not too few. She uses phrases like “black grace” and “strange mercy” that melt the heart. Her robust rendition of her characters is bittersweet." | Margaret Ritchie, Church of Vancouver

"I saw Espresso in its first incarnation, and it never left me. When I saw you were remounting it in this season I went with my young Italian friend. This play is poetry, and possibly the best indie play I’ve ever seen. It is about such real people, yet Lucia brings out their other-ness; how they are so Italian, and yet so recognizable to us all. It is intimate and universal. I want to know them all, and yet understand why Rosa distanced herself from them until this tragedy. Bravo again and again!" | Ellie O'Day, patron (website comment)

"Frangione’s script is beautifully poetic, mesmerizing in its tone, both touching in it’s quiet moments and intense, driving the story forward like a freight train. At times Rosa breaks the fourth wall and tells us in the audience; this is ‘her story’; and as such we see the entire journey through her eyes. I don’t think it is possible for me to put into words how good this show really is." | Megan Gray, Vancity Buzz

"It is in the relationship between Amante and the women where Frangione finds the spiritual center of her play, using the often times tumultuous relationship we can have with our lovers as a symbol for the equally challenging connection with our gods. At times looking for solace in their arms, or wounded by their seeming indifference to what really matters, Frangione has been able to extract the essence of an often times complex spiritual quest, to a relatable metaphor. But while it all may sound very intellectual, heady and faith-based, Frangione skillfully combines it seamlessly with a humanity that is also surprisingly funny and very real." | Mark Robins, Vancouver Presents

"What a great show; the venue was intimate, the performance engaging and the writing brilliant! We really our enjoyed the whole experience. Thank you." | Pauline Tonkin, patron (Facebook)

"Espresso is well written, directed, and acted, making it a must-see for anyone who’s ever struggled with how to convey their thoughts and beliefs." | MJ Ankenman, Vancouverscape

"The language of this play is so poetic and gorgeously written. That in itself is worth coming to the show. But the storyline will touch you and hook you in, making you wish the intermission were shorter so that you can get right back into the plot." | Alan Woo, Fun Fun Vancouver

"The requisite attentiveness and percipience to this production definitely has its reward. I hope Vancouver theatre-goers don’t have to wait a further eleven years for another taste of Espresso." | John Jane, Review Vancouver

"This show was fantastic! Make time to see this genius in action." | Beth Ringdahl, patron (Facebook)

"The production is assured, sustained by the dynamic between Frangione and Salvador. Stancil Campbell’s set and lighting suited the tone of the play, with its diaphanous curtains echoing both boudoir and hospital bed, and the evocative sight and sound of the set’s rain-spattered window serves as a backdrop." | Clara Kumagai, Prism Magazine

FROM THE TWITTER FEED:

@j_baerg: Still pondering @PacificTheatre's #Espresso. It is an absolute must see. Funny, heart-breaking, challenging, bold and full of life. #cried

@akellumcreer: Never awaken love until it's ripe. ~ @LuciaFrangione is radiant and true in #ptEspresso, on @PacificTheatre until June 14.

@laurenolmstead: Espresso @PacificTheatre is a must see! I love theatre!

@kimleifso: "Skinny people are famous. Happy people are always a bit fat" from "Espresso", another great @PacificTheatre event!

@loretta_walsh: @LuciaFrangione I saw your play 'Espresso' today @PacificTheatre. Lucia, what a gift - beautiful work. Thank you so much.#theatre #Vancouver

@teresatrovato: I was fortunate enough to see @LuciaFrangione's Espresso tonight @PacificTheatre. What an incredibly moving piece of work!

@captivethunder: Another stunning production of @LuciaFrangione 's "Espresso" at @PacificTheatre. I love this play! #ptEspresso

@theatre_20: Saw @PacificTheatre's Espresso last night. Moved and inspired. This production is a thing of beauty. #Theatre at its best. GO just GO. #yvr

espresso | food quotes

ESPRESSO is sprinkled with mentions of some mouth-watering Italian cuisine. Of course, playwright Lucia Frangione is not stranger to this delicious cooking. Work on a show with her and you are likely to get tastes of all sorts of delicious treats - and the core creative team of ESPRESSO had a special treat: she cooked them a five-course Italian meal, recreating the food described in the show. Here's a peak at some of the food references:

espresso | jj bean cupping event

Our sponsors at JJ Bean Coffee are hosting "cupping" coffee tastings every Wednesday before ESPRESSO.

Espresso Cupping Events Sponsored by JJ Bean
FREE coffee tasting event
Wednesday nights at 7pm
RSVP to alison@pacifictheatre.org to reserve your place

espresso | sarah rodgers

This summer we filmed a series of interviews celebrating our 30th anniversary season (see them here, here, and here) including a fantastic interview with Sarah Rodgers. Here is a stand-alone video of her sharing her excitement about ESPRESSO, now playing until June 14.

espresso | discussion guide

We've done all our talkbacks and discussion groups for ESPRESSO, but know that a lot of people are still looking for more ways to engage.  If that's you, check out our discussion guide (pdf)!  It's full of extra background information on the show and artists, as well as some discussion questions and quotes to get your conversation started.

Discussion Guide PDF available here.

espresso | photos

Some more shots from ESPRESSO, playing until June 14, taken by Ron Reed.

espresso | on the weather network

This morning we got up bright and early to invite Arda Ocal from The Weather Network into our space to talk about ESPRESSO and our rain feature.  Here's one of the segments where Production Manager Frank Nickel discusses the inner workings of how we make it rain on stage.

espresso | theatre club | pictures

This past Saturday we hosted our largest Theatre Club ever! Over 30 people stuck around after ESPRESSO to chat about the show and share their experiences. Thank you so much to everyone who joined us, and big thanks to apprentice Pippa for facilitating. We've had a fabulous year engaging in these conversations with our audience members. Look for Theatre Club to be back next year! 

If you're interested in reading the Espresso discussion guide, you can find it here. 

espresso | song of solomon

ESPRESSO is inspired in large part by the Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon), a book in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. This is a unique text in the scriptures, as it references no law, wisdom, or teachings of God. Instead it represents the voices of two lovers praising and yearning for each other.  While there are many ways to look at this text, here are some of the most common interpretations and breakdowns. 

Some notes on Song of Songs/Song of Solomon

• The Song of Solomon is often interpreted as an allegory for God’s relationship with his people, especially in Jewish traditions.
• In Christian tradition it is also considered a romantic song celebrating sexual intimacy between husband and wife, as well as an image for Christ as the bridegroom to his Church.
• The original title, Song of Songs, uses the repetition of “songs” as a superlative, showing it as the most beautiful of all songs.
• There is little agreement among scholars about whether there is a unified story or intention from the book, as it is very fragmented and may be written by different authors or about different people.

Structure of the Song of Songs

• Introduction
• names the piece as the Song of Songs and introduces the lovers
• Dialogue between the lovers
• the two lovers speak to each other, offering compliments and flirtations invitations to one another
• The woman addresses the daughters of Jerusalem
• the woman speaks to a group of women she calls the “daughters of Jerusalem”, describing her nighttime search for her lover that turns out to be a dream
• Sighting of a royal wedding procession
• a wedding procession for King Solomon is described
• The man describes the woman
• he describes his lover and her beauty, comparing her to a “locked garden”, and she invites him to enter and eat the fruit
• The woman addresses the daughters of Jerusalem
• again she recounts a dream of seeking her lover to the women, and recounts his attractive features
• The man describes his lover, who visits him
• this part is considered possibly corrupt
• The beauty of the woman is praised
• outsiders praise her
• Appendix
• the woman compares love to death – it is relentless and jealous

theatre club | espresso | sat may 24

Today is our last Theatre Club of the season. If you're attending today's matinee of Espresso, stick around after the show to delve deeper into this beautiful play. Discussion guides and refreshments will be provided. We're looking forward it!

Theatre Club | Espresso

Saturday May 24th at approx 4:15pm - following the matinee

Discussion guide can be found here. 

espresso | board member night | photos

This week Pacific Theatre's Board hosted a community building evening for a group of board members from other local theatre companies. Everyone was first treated to a coffee tasting led by JJ Bean experts, followed by a performance of Espresso and a talkback with Ron, the cast and the artistic team. It was a wonderful evening spent connecting with other leaders in our theatre community. A big thank you to JJ Bean, the cast of Espresso and PT's tireless board who work so hard to help make PT great. Here are some photos from the event: