Sneak Peak by Charles Roetting of SLEUTH: Carnegie Theatre
Warning: the following may be difficult for some readers.
On October 21, 2015, I was to interview SLEUTH Director Greg Procaccino but upon arriving, Mr. Procaccino was nowhere to be found. In his place, I found a crumpled note on which had been printed the interview questions I had sent him in advance, as well as some hurriedly scribbled text beneath each one that seemed to be written in an apparent panic. Much of the text was smeared with what appeared to be ketchup or some other red liquid. Below is what I was able to decipher.
Sleuth has been called a mystery, a thriller, a comedy, a farce a whodunit and even a whodunWHAT. How would you classify this play?
All of that“¦with a lovely dose of a little class warfare.
What is it that you like about directing plays that transcend style such as this?
…someone says, “œHey, can we try this?““¦I say, “œyes.“ “¦this piece opens itself up to taking a left turn and a right turn“¦ “¦you can take left turns and right turn and they come back“¦to the piece“¦
Synopsis aside, what would you say SLEUTH is about?
To put it into one sentence“¦ difficult“¦ “œThe lengths people will go to let the world know who they are and then to defend it.“
So, what“™s your spin? What“™s the Greg Procaccino brand on this production?
I apologize for not being more articulate“¦ I love to“¦let them go and watch what they do. I like getting excited“¦ I laugh and make noises when things go right. People say, “was that wrong?“ I say NO! I laugh in places that other people don“™t“¦ I laugh because“¦ it went well. “¦that“™s about my only brand I can think of.
How have you enjoyed working with the actors on this process?
It was wonderful“¦ so ready, so prepared“¦ “¦letting them take over“¦ “¦what was going to occur“¦ “¦they were prepared“¦
Could you tell us a little about the technical elements of the show?
“¦they“™re huge… Pieces of“¦ glass“¦ break. People“¦ get shot. People“¦break through a window. “¦none of that is more important than“¦ two men and what they are trying to do. “¦guns, bullets, things that break“¦ “¦things that go bump in the night. They“™re all there“¦ to support“¦ two men fighting“¦ for what they want.
Do you feel that any of the issues in the play resonate with the world today?
Yes absolutely. “¦people living sheltered lives, isolated, hidden because of their wealth, because of their position, don“™t understand what the real people are going through“¦ Milo is real“¦he“™s cocky“¦Milo doesn“™t play games. Andrew separates himself from others because of his success“¦ his state. I think you“™re still seeing that today “¦the “œhave“™s“ have more than they ever had before and the “œhave not“™s““¦the gulf is getting wider and wider and wider. “¦the class warfare that these two men fight underneath what they“™re doing is still happening all over the world. Pick which side you“™re on.
Do you feel the play is morally ambiguous?
Yes absolutely. They play “¦several games“¦ [W]ho do you root for? “¦why. One man wants his fair share, the other man wants his. Each one gets their comeuppance. Do they deserve it? Does anybody deserve it? [J]ust how far do you go to win a point, money, a wife, a boat“¦ [W]hat means is “œby any means possible“? How hard does “œby any means possible“ go? “¦this play looks at that. Pick which side you“™re on.
What else should we know about SLEUTH?
“¦you don“™t get the end until the very end. This“¦ play“¦ literally you don“™t realize what happened until the end. [I]t“™s the very last moment“¦you know what happened.
SLEUTH stars Brent Alan Burington as Andrew Wyke and Rory Sheridan as Milo Tindle. When reached for questioning they had the following to say about their time working on SLEUTH as well as Mr. Procaccino“™s whereabouts.
Rory Sheridan said, “œThe process for Sleuth has been amazing. It“™s been really great working with Greg although I have to say the other day he was looking a little bit nervous and we haven“™t seen him since but I trust that this is all part of his process in putting together a thoroughly good show.“
Brent“™s response was equally as enlightening as it was plot thickening. “œGreg and I have worked together before and I think he“™s a fantastic director. Earlier this week though he made this flying trip to New York. Drove out, drove back, and he was really vague about the whole thing which seemed kind of odd. He didn“™t do that when I worked with him before.“
Readers, I am highly concerned. I wish I could have asked Mr. Procaccino these questions personally instead of finding them written in a foreboding note that is as mysterious as the play itself. Come see SLEUTH at The Carnegie from November 7-22 to have all these questions answered and more. Perhaps we can even solve The Mystery of The Disappearing Director!
SLEUTH, by Anthony Shaffer, is being presented by The Carnegie from November 7-22.
From: http://www.thecarnegie.com/ :
SLEUTH is the winner of both Tony and Drama Desk awards for Best Play, and has been adapted for the silver screen several times over. This popular show is a mystery thrill-ride that audiences will want to take again and again.
Tickets $25 For member, student and group discounts, please call The Carnegie Box Office at 859.957.1940, Tu-Fri, noon-5pm. The Carnegie is in the process of upgrading to a new online ticketing system. As we transition, ticket sales will be unavailable on Monday, October 12. Patrons will still be able to purchase tickets by calling (859) 957-1940, or by visiting The Carnegie Box Office, during regular Box Office hours which resume Tuesday, 12 p.m. ““ 5 p.m.