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House of Several Stories

Presented by Imagine That Productions at Austin Playhouse

August 6-August 23, 2009

Avg. Event Rating (4.4 Stars):
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Imagine That Production presents its inaugural production, House of Several Stories: a tragedy in two acts of nonsense at Austin Playhouse, written and directed by A. John Boulanger. Thanksgiving isn’t what it used to be in the absurdist play about an eccentric family and their unusual guests. HOSS explores how stories (whether true, false, or borrowed) help fill the vacuum in our lives caused by death, loss, and dysfunction. HOSS garnered A. John Boulanger the honor of this year’s National Student Playwriting Award from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. The Austin premiere stars the incomparable talents of Lauren Lane, Martin Burke, Meredith McCall, Adam Pearson, Kelli Schultz with lighting by Jason Amato, costumes by Jillan Hanel, and set by Griffon Ramsey.

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  • Venue Info

    Austin Playhouse

    3601 South Congress Avenue
    Austin, TX 78704

    Full map and directions

  • Admission Info

    Tickets: $20 general admission, $15 students, special champagne opening Friday August 7--$30;

    Info Phone: 512.476.0084

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  • Dates & Times

    Dates:
    August 6-August 23, 2009

    Times:
    Thur-Sat @ 8 pm, Sundays @ 5 pm

  • Accessibility Info

    Currently, no accessibility information is available for this event.

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    • Event Name: House of Several Stories
      "You should see this play..."
      Review posted by: Sarah Saltwick from lovely Austin TX, Aug 18, 2009
      

      A very good time about some troubling things. Lauren Lane tears into her role of the mother Sue with boundless energy and without a drop of judgment. She is flanked by her adult children home for... Expand

      A very good time about some troubling things. Lauren Lane tears into her role of the mother Sue with boundless energy and without a drop of judgment. She is flanked by her adult children home for Thanksgiving: Bastian, played by Martin Burke, and Rissa, played by Meredith McCall. Again, these characters are played to their fullest with energy, love and variety. Their antics are interrupted by a strange phone by a lady with a baby. With a stranger in the house, things get a little stranger... This production always feels steady on its feet from the stunning overall design, from all five actors, direction and text. If anything interrupts the overall appeal of the show, it’s a nagging sense that hit me in the middle of the second act – we are not going to find out what’s really going on. And we don’t. All the dots are not connected. Few actually are. I imagine this will bother some more than others. But for those who enter this world with an open mind, the play more than delivers. Collapse

    • Event Name: House of Several Stories
      "Dramatic Candy"
      Review posted by: Dola from Austin, TX, Aug 18, 2009
      

      Fun, imaginative, raucous delight on the outside, with deep felt emotional trauma on the inside. It is the tastiest tootsie-pop of Austin Theatre.

      Fun, imaginative, raucous delight on the outside, with deep felt emotional trauma on the inside. It is the tastiest tootsie-pop of Austin Theatre.

    • Event Name: House of Several Stories
      "Sharp wit, great comic timing"
      Review posted by: theatresnob from austin,tx, Aug 17, 2009
      

      Having seen most of these actors onstage in dramatic roles, this was a lovely opportunity to see them commit so fully to this theatre of the absurd. While I cannot claim to know exactly what happened... Expand

      Having seen most of these actors onstage in dramatic roles, this was a lovely opportunity to see them commit so fully to this theatre of the absurd. While I cannot claim to know exactly what happened in this show...I.E. What were the stories? How were they all connected? What was real and what wasn'? I believe that was the point. This was one of those shows where you leave and are still talking about it hours later. Kudos to the director/playwright for engaging such an amazing cast who could do it all justice. A very enjoyable evening of theatre, and the first time in a long time where I didn't want to check my watch during the play. Highly recommended. Collapse

    • Event Name: House of Several Stories
      "Fiercely Fantastic Family in this Theater of the Absurd"
      Review posted by: Pammyla Brooks from Austin, TX, Aug 15, 2009
      

      It was delightful to see Meredith McCall and Martin Burke playing opposite each other again. As the two have proved onstage before, they have great chemistry together. Lauren Lane does a topnotch... Expand

      It was delightful to see Meredith McCall and Martin Burke playing opposite each other again. As the two have proved onstage before, they have great chemistry together. Lauren Lane does a topnotch performance as the mother. Combined with the two, the talent and fierceness of the three actors create a very believable Theatre of the Absurd family, and we are catapulted into their world. The first act is so full of non sequiters, surprising actions and comments that the audience erupts with laughter from the beginning. The appearance of two additional characters changes this chemistry. It was unclear whether this change of energy was purposeful or not. Were they meant to be played as more normal and less absurd in order to contrast with the three? While the first act seemed like a comedy, the tone changes significantly in the second act, which holds fewer laughs. I was left uncertain about the ending. Perhaps it was left up to the audience? Overall, nice and enjoyable. Collapse

    • Event Name: House of Several Stories
      "Star cast!"
      Review posted by: www.austinlivetheatre.com from austin,tx, Aug 12, 2009
      

      House of Several Stories: imagine Bart Simpson meets Betty Crocker on LSD. Star cast, wild laughs, depth. http://tinyurl.com/kvy7hh

      House of Several Stories: imagine Bart Simpson meets Betty Crocker on LSD. Star cast, wild laughs, depth. http://tinyurl.com/kvy7hh

• Media
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• Member
  Reviews

  • Member Reviews

    Add review/comment

    • Event Name: House of Several Stories
      "You should see this play..."
      Review posted by: Sarah Saltwick from lovely Austin TX, Aug 18, 2009
      

      A very good time about some troubling things. Lauren Lane tears into her role of the mother Sue with boundless energy and without a drop of judgment. She is flanked by her adult children home for... Expand

      A very good time about some troubling things. Lauren Lane tears into her role of the mother Sue with boundless energy and without a drop of judgment. She is flanked by her adult children home for Thanksgiving: Bastian, played by Martin Burke, and Rissa, played by Meredith McCall. Again, these characters are played to their fullest with energy, love and variety. Their antics are interrupted by a strange phone by a lady with a baby. With a stranger in the house, things get a little stranger... This production always feels steady on its feet from the stunning overall design, from all five actors, direction and text. If anything interrupts the overall appeal of the show, it’s a nagging sense that hit me in the middle of the second act – we are not going to find out what’s really going on. And we don’t. All the dots are not connected. Few actually are. I imagine this will bother some more than others. But for those who enter this world with an open mind, the play more than delivers. Collapse

    • Event Name: House of Several Stories
      "Dramatic Candy"
      Review posted by: Dola from Austin, TX, Aug 18, 2009
      

      Fun, imaginative, raucous delight on the outside, with deep felt emotional trauma on the inside. It is the tastiest tootsie-pop of Austin Theatre.

      Fun, imaginative, raucous delight on the outside, with deep felt emotional trauma on the inside. It is the tastiest tootsie-pop of Austin Theatre.

    • Event Name: House of Several Stories
      "Sharp wit, great comic timing"
      Review posted by: theatresnob from austin,tx, Aug 17, 2009
      

      Having seen most of these actors onstage in dramatic roles, this was a lovely opportunity to see them commit so fully to this theatre of the absurd. While I cannot claim to know exactly what happened... Expand

      Having seen most of these actors onstage in dramatic roles, this was a lovely opportunity to see them commit so fully to this theatre of the absurd. While I cannot claim to know exactly what happened in this show...I.E. What were the stories? How were they all connected? What was real and what wasn'? I believe that was the point. This was one of those shows where you leave and are still talking about it hours later. Kudos to the director/playwright for engaging such an amazing cast who could do it all justice. A very enjoyable evening of theatre, and the first time in a long time where I didn't want to check my watch during the play. Highly recommended. Collapse

    • Event Name: House of Several Stories
      "Fiercely Fantastic Family in this Theater of the Absurd"
      Review posted by: Pammyla Brooks from Austin, TX, Aug 15, 2009
      

      It was delightful to see Meredith McCall and Martin Burke playing opposite each other again. As the two have proved onstage before, they have great chemistry together. Lauren Lane does a topnotch... Expand

      It was delightful to see Meredith McCall and Martin Burke playing opposite each other again. As the two have proved onstage before, they have great chemistry together. Lauren Lane does a topnotch performance as the mother. Combined with the two, the talent and fierceness of the three actors create a very believable Theatre of the Absurd family, and we are catapulted into their world. The first act is so full of non sequiters, surprising actions and comments that the audience erupts with laughter from the beginning. The appearance of two additional characters changes this chemistry. It was unclear whether this change of energy was purposeful or not. Were they meant to be played as more normal and less absurd in order to contrast with the three? While the first act seemed like a comedy, the tone changes significantly in the second act, which holds fewer laughs. I was left uncertain about the ending. Perhaps it was left up to the audience? Overall, nice and enjoyable. Collapse

    • Event Name: House of Several Stories
      "Star cast!"
      Review posted by: www.austinlivetheatre.com from austin,tx, Aug 12, 2009
      

      House of Several Stories: imagine Bart Simpson meets Betty Crocker on LSD. Star cast, wild laughs, depth. http://tinyurl.com/kvy7hh

      House of Several Stories: imagine Bart Simpson meets Betty Crocker on LSD. Star cast, wild laughs, depth. http://tinyurl.com/kvy7hh

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