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'Rattlesnakes' set to strike Thursday
5/2/07
by Beth Wilberding
Messenger-Inquirer
Graham Farrow likes to be involved with the productions he has written. He is so interested in seeing how different theater companies interpret his pieces that he's willing to travel quite a distance to see them.
"It's a pleasant way for me to get to visit different places," he said.
Farrow arrived in Owensboro a little more than a week ago from Yorkshire, England, to see Merely Players Inc. finish rehearsing his play "Rattlesnakes" for their upcoming performances.
"Rattlesnakes" is the story of three husbands' revenge on a male prostitute, Robert McQueen, whom their wives have been seeing, and the ensuing twists and tangles.
"Rattlesnakes" opens Thursday night.
Farrow got the inspiration for the play after seeing a documentary on a male prostitute in Australia, where prostitution is legal in some parts of the country. At one point in the film, the crew meets one of the man's clients. They asked her what would happen if her husband found out.
Farrow explores what could happen in "Rattlesnakes."
Gjcarra Mattingly is playing Shelly Hanson, one of McQueen's clients. She said it is convenient to have the playwright at their rehearsals.
"You can ask the man that made the story all the possible questions," Mattingly said. "It helps with character development. (It's) quite an honor.
" ... Personally, I liked it from the first time that I read it."
"Rattlesnakes" is being performed at Healing America. It can hold up to 150 people, but Alan Velotta, the founding artistic director of Merely Players and the director for "Rattlesnakes," said they will probably have seating for 30 to 50 people.
"We can work outside the confines of traditional stage," said Matt Hedges, who is playing McQueen.
Kevin Roach, who is playing Richie Hanson, said "Rattlesnakes" provides a new experience for both the performers and the audience.
"It's a play that, when you watch it, it forces the audience to pay attention to what happens on stage," he said.
Merely Players have been doing shorter plays, so this will be one of the first full-length productions they have done in a while, Velotta said.
"Now that we can control the atmosphere of the space, we are able to approach a piece like that," he said.
Farrow submitted the piece to Merely Players, which made it stand out. Playwrights don't always submit their work, Velotta said.
And people who see "Rattlesnakes" on the stage might see it on the silver screen soon. Farrow is working on a revision of the screenplay, and Leonardo DiCaprio or Jared Leto might end up starring in the film, which is being produced by Piper Films of London.
Velotta said he thinks the audience will go on a journey.
"The play is full of surprises," he said, "and it explores the minds of several interesting characters in a very real context."
To Attend
Graham Farrow's "Rattlesnakes" will be presented by Merely Players at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and May 11 and 12 at Healing America, 102 W. Ninth St.
A performance will be held in Evansville at 8 p.m. May 10 at Penny Lane Coffee House. Tickets cost $10 at Healing America, and $5 for the Evansville performance.
A question-and-answer session with Farrow will be held after opening and closing night, and he will be available to sign copies of his book.
Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at
www.merelyplayers.org. For more
information, contact Alan Velotta at 315-2413.
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