By David Chatterton AUGUST 16, 2016
Phil Nerges & Letter of Marque Theater Co’s sharp satiric dramatisation of some contractors' experiences during the American occupation of Iraq tells sobering truths about the forgotten women and men that in all wars are sometimes referred to as camp followers. It does so in a way that is entertaining, fast and often amusing. The show depicts two sets of characters. One set consists of a Senator, an ex-General, and an investor who are self serving, driven by the need to make money, and are referred to as "the greedy and powerful high ups that pull all the strings". In contrast are the three civilian drivers whose dangerous transport work across the roads of Iraq makes them targets for Iraqi resistance. The character Jason, who is loosely based on the writer Phil Nerges’s own experience, observes of the attacks on the trucks that, "they like to wave when they blow us up. It took me a while to figure out they’re waving goodbye." Read More... |
Review: ‘Double Falsehood,’ and Just Maybe a Double BylineBy NEIL GENZLINGER MARCH 18, 2016
Whether Shakespeare or someone else wrote it, you have to admire the prescience of “Double Falsehood,” at least as it’s being staged in a well-conceived production by the Letter of Marque Theater Company. Thanks largely to a scalding scene in the first half of the show, a central plotline seems as if it could be a commentary on the modern-day scourges of date rape and on-campus assaults.
The play has long been a source of debate among scholars over whether it can be wholly or partly attributed to Shakespeare. Last year, two experts who analyzed its language asserted that Shakespeare’s hand is unmistakable. Certainly the story (based on the “Cardenio” episode of “Don Quixote”) is very Shakespearean: romantic triangles and treacheries; altered identities; class differences as an obstacle to love. It centers on two sons of a duke...read more.... |
A Lost Shakespeare Play Grows in Brooklyn: ‘Double Falsehood’ Comes to New York CityBy JED RYAN Mar 16, 2016
At the opening night of Letter of Marque Theater Company’s Double Falsehood at The Irondale Center in Brooklyn, one of the creative minds behind the show was overheard telling an attendee, “This show isn’t like Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet, where the audience at least knows the story. Most people don’t know anything about this play! It’s a risk.” While Double Falsehood may have been first produced in 1727, the themes of morality, sexual ethics, and equality (in regard to both gender and class) which were explored centuries ago remain as relevant as ever in 2016. As directed by Andrew Borthwick-Leslie, this new production features moments of laugh-inducing comedy alongside provocative tragedy, all performed by an energetic and talented cast. The end result is a play which, despite being over 300 years old, hasn’t lost its ability to both entertain as well as to bring out some timeless emotions.
Double Falsehood is considered to be a “controversial” work — not so much because of its content, but rather for the debate over just how much of the play was actually written by Mr. Shakespeare. It’s an emotionally charged debate....read more |
Double Falsehood : Best Betby Sarah Weber on 3.19.16
Between clever direction and an outstanding cast, Double Falsehood is an absorbing piece. Every actor is so fully immersed in their characters you have no choice but to watch every little detail. Libresco convincingly maintains the disposition of a gushing romantic even in Julio’s most defeated moments, and Huff portrays Henriquez’s selfishness so well even the character’s sincerest moments feel contrived.
In a play that bluntly addresses rape culture, victim shaming, and society’s ugly obsession with female purity, Hoover and Liu’s performances were beyond empowering. Hoover’s tenacity shines through as the outspoken and bold Leonora—I loved the moment when she contests her father’s approval of Henriquez’s proposal. Liu’s performance blew me away entirely. The nuance with which she juggles multiple emotions at once is staggering. A couple of scenes after Violante’s rape, she delivers a monologue wherein we watch every possible reaction—horror, shame, rage, isolation, fear, desperation, sometimes all together—pour over Liu’s entire body. I wanted to scream with her. If you want to see how a centuries-old play contributes to contemporary feminist discourse, or you simply have a penchant for classics, please go see Double Falsehood. Or, at the very least, check out Letter of Marque Theater Company’s website to learn about future projects and programs. If Double Falsehood is any indication, they do amazing work. I’ll definitely keep them on my radar. Read more |
Ka-ching blade! Fund-raiser features a sword to kilt forJune 10, 2016
BY TATIANA HERNANDEZ This theater is on the cutting edge!
A Gowanus theater company will launch its new musical across the ocean to Scotland with “Swordraiser X: Curiosity Kilt the Cat,” a fund-raising party that combines a competition for a sword, a theatrical premiere, ska music, and Scottish outfits. The night will send the show “Don’t Feed the Cats” to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and also inspire audiences with a simple message of kindness to kitties, said the company’s producer. “It’s a send-off and a celebration, but also a premiere for this show that we feel is really important and can say a lot,” said Karen Ng, of the Letter of Marque Theater Company. The punk rock musical show was written by Phil Nerges, based on his memoir “Don’t Feed the Cats in Iraq.” Nerges violated that rule while working as a civilian contractor in the war-torn country, an act that brought a measure of humanity to a difficult time, said Ng...... read more |
Joshua Tree: Letter of Marque Theater Co. Performance and Reception
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Another Shakespeare Play?
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Letter of Marque to bring
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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST
with Robbie Gonyo |
Nolan Kennedy, Scarlet Maressa Rivera, & Welland H. Scripps of “Gifts”
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Experience Heartbreak This Holiday Season at Letter of Marque's "GIFTS" This Weekend
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Letter of Marque Theater to Present
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Test Your Good Fortune at Letter of Marque's Pirate-Themed Carnivale!
By Naomi Regina Thursday, June 17, 2014. #EVENTS #THEATER #GOWANUS # PIRATES I'll bet you all the doubloons in my pocket that you can make a realistic-looking whiskey barrel out of a few milk crates, an old cable spool, and some cardboard... The good old technical director at the Letter of Marque Theater Co. (LoM) has and (if he doesn't kill me for giving away his secret) you'll find real whiskey (served from bottles), swing dancing, and a casino filled with funny money at Fortune's Take--A Pirate Casino Carnival! The co-captains of the Letter of Marque Theater Co, Nolan Kennedy, Scarlet Rivera, and Welland H. Scripps founded the company in the fall of 2013. The three captains rotate who has artistic lead of the productions but allows their crew to vote democratically on most other decisions. LoM's mission is to make Art a cultural necessity by creating approachable theater that fights apathy offered at little or no cost to their audiences. ( Yo Ho!) The company's most recent production: "Bully Me Down" was written by Nolan himself. It tells the story of a privateer (Captain William Kidd), a bullied teen, and Edward Snowden. In a podcast Nolan explains, “We kind of wanted to do a ‘self-titled-album’ kind of show, so it’s trying on these piratical, privateer stories and ideas, and it also is dealing with what’s happening around us…this idea of what’s private and what’s not private…” For more about the production South Slope News has a nice interview ! LoM is hosting Fortune's Take as a fundraiser, but it is free to the public (cash bar). $250 VIP tickets are available but no one will pressure you to purchase one (It comes with a top-shelf open bar, food from Runner & Stone, and $2000 in funny money for the casino). Everyone is welcome to enjoy the live music, casino games, and general merriment! Who doesn't love local theater? The party is this Saturday! Dress appropriately! |
The best free things to do in NYC
Time Out New York June 19-25, 2014 Pop-up casino in Brooklyn? What? Not only can you gamble at this pirate-themed carnival, you can also snag prizes from its silent auction, join in on a Texas Hold 'Em tournament, booze out at the open bar and dance like a money-hungry pirate to bands like the Rusty Guns—or you could just dance like a normal person. All money earned during the event goes to supporting the Brooklyn-based Letter of Marque Theater Company, so you'd even be doing charity! http://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/fortunes-take-a-pirate-casino-carnival |
By Chloe Edmundson
Bully Me Down does have certain points of charm. Worth the trip to Brooklyn itself is a puppet version of Barbara Walters from the bust up, designed and constructed by Serra Hirsch. Especially agile at Barbara-handling is Welland H. Scripps, who manages to coyly flash the puppet’s red-lacquered fingernails as she conducts her interviews with various characters throughout the play. All of the performer’s accents, especially Scripps’ and Kennedy’s, are delightfully overdone and consistent. Also of note is the company’s original and re-imagined musical score: the tune of the song, “Bully Me Down,” is sure to stick in your head, and the musical fun continues during a wacky dumbshow during intermission. Best of all, the performances are free and take place in various bars around Brooklyn, so you can have a beer with locals and enjoy the community vibe. |