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Luminous Goes Domestic with Sin
Kristina O'Neal and the Luminous Group Theatre Company bring it home with Clayton Surratt's American-made sex comedy Sin Chronos City.
by
James Kass
September 17, 2002 |
As one of the co-founders of the Luminous Group, Kristina O'Neal has primarily focused on bringing foreign titles to Manhattan. But Sin Chronos City, her latest directorial adventure, isn't from Reykjavik or London's West End; it was penned right here in the States.
Playwright Clayton Surratt's comedy, which has its staging this month at NYC's Raw Space, is a fast paced tale of one man's quest (Kerri, played by Will Jarred) to find love in the city that never sleeps.
"It is a touching, moving glimpse into commitment, sex for sex sake, sex for love's sake, relationships and friendships that are just as awkward and delicate," says Kristina.
The title Sin Chronos City is a pun on "synchronicity": "Sin" for the quirky, often perverse characters running in and out of Kerri's life; "Chonos" (the Greek god of Time) representing the urgency of lust and the only cure for love; and "City" is, naturally, NYC herself. Together, the synchronicity in the play is like a temporal tapestry of coincidence and circumstance, all revolving around a regular guy's desires despite his conscience.
Getting the Director and Writer in Synch
The relationship between director and playwright can mean the difference between a hair-pulling clash of egos and a productive rehearsal process. Kristina and Clayton's mutual respect for each other's duties ensured they would be, appropriately enough, in synchronicity.
Having the playwright directly involved with the production of Sin Chronos City proved invaluable, according to Kristina. "He has been very involved throughout - re-writes, attending rehearsals, even help with directorial suggestions. I love the input from professional and courteous artistic people," she says.
"I tried to be as available as I could be, but not step on Kristina's toes," says Clayton. "I didn't want there to be any question of authority among the actors. Kristina is the boss."
Dating in Gotham
Despite the semi-fictional courtship train wrecks that the character Kerri finds himself in, Clayton confesses his own dating experiences weren't as horrible as his play suggests. "Lots of interesting ones," he says, "Lots of first dates with no follow up, but not any real nightmares. Just frog kissing."
"The dates I used to go on were very strange and bizarre," says a sympathetic Kristina, "Many of my friends are having a hell of a time getting a date."
Michelle Liberman, who plays Mel (Kerri's "former" wife), has her own theory: "Everyone has that special, romantic bond with only a few other people in the world", she says. "In a city like New York, there are so many people per square foot, it's easy to miss those special people."
Once again, it's all about synchronicity.
Looking Forward in Time
Clayton has two screenplays making the rounds in Los Angeles, and is working on a thriller for the spec market. He is also developing a few projects for television. "I'm always writing," he says.
Kristina considers Sin Chronos City a pleasantly creative calm before the storm: "I wanted to do something before I started an Icelandic mega-project for next year," she says. "Let me tell you, no play is ever anything simple!"
Sin Chronos City by Clayton Surratt. Produced by The Luminous Group Theatre Company. Directed by Kristina O'Neal. Starring (in alphabetical order): Cindy Cocilovo, Don Draxler, Will Jarred, Michelle Liberman, Angelica Mercado, Amy-Jo Mikiel, Kristina O'Neal, Mickey Pantano, Jennifer Rice, Paula Turanec and Brandy Wykes. Runs September 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28th at 8pm at Raw Space Studios, Theatre G2 downstairs, 543 West 42d St. between 10th and 11th Avenues. Tickets: $15.00. Reservations: (866) 841-9139 x2350. Due to mature themes and brief nudity, this production is for adult audiences only.
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James Kass is the Features Editor and Database Administrator of My8by10.com. |
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