Louie's at 1st and Main

As I was watching Louie’s at 1st and Main, I noticed within the first ten minutes that the tempo of the dialogue could have gone a little bit faster than it did. I thought the director’s choice of dialogue in the script could have been modified if not cut out completely. By that I mean the scenes with Louie and Dmitri talking about peanut butter... I felt like it went longer than it should. But I also feel that it set up for future games of ‘conversation’, because later on it got deeper, like ‘love’. (Someone also pointed out that they liked how the homeless man could talk circles around the ‘educated people’. So true; that was entertaining watching his witty comebacks).

As far as the casting goes, each person carried their character on stage the best they could. Although I’ve never seen any professional plays, I have seen enough high school plays to notice which casts seem to click together in the play and which don’t. I’d like to echo what Ember said in her blog post, ‘the entire cast was always connected to each other, and be it in a negative, positive or neutral way. It made it more realistic and drew me into the show more because of it.’ I like the way Ember put those sentences together. It really does explain how I felt towards the play.

I felt like the movement of the actors was fine, some more so than others. In my opinion, it feels like there’s not much to work with when in such a small space, it seems like that type of space is good for conveying a message on a stage where not much movement is needed. As for the characters, Officer Charles could have moved more when Dmitri was talking to him when they had a scene together. What I also liked was the character Louie, how he had a few little mannerisms that gave clues that he wasn’t human. I don’t think anyone picked up on it until maybe the second half of the play (but I could be wrong, maybe some of you did!) that he actually wasn’t human, he was actually a pigeon. Like how he was quite when other people were around, when the mean police officer stomped his foot on the ground and he ran (flew always flapping his arms). Yes, I thought it was clever.

All in all, I think the director did a good job with the actors and how they portrayed their characters. I thought the characters played their parts to the best of their ability.

Louie's at 1st and Main

Stage Space

The stage space at The Backdoor Theatre is small at compact. There is barely any distinction between the stage and the audience. The stage is really a found stage, but made into a black box stage. Because there's barely any space between the stage and the audience, the audience is more involved in the story. That also means there is no need for mics, making the action more personal.

Since there is nowhere to put props or stage pieces behind the stage area. This makes there only one option for scenery: set pieces that don't move. That's mostly because the stage really isn't a stage and the building really isn't a theatre. It's a found stage, probably the back room or such of the coffee shop, which was quite creative. However, during scene changes, every sound and movement is seen and heard. For me, that was really annoying and distracting.


For such a small stage, the actors didn't need mics. On top of that, they really didn't need to do much projection. Some actors talked a bit too loudly, especially the character Bernie. He was probably used to acting on a larger stage, but it doesn't give him much of an excuse. His voice was so loud, it was distracting from what he was actually saying.


Overall, I liked the fact that the stage was small. It made the story more real and kept the audience more involved.
Deanna Davis

"Integrity"

When there are so many views in critiquing a piece of art, it can be hard finding the inspiration for critiquing just one aspect. When I felt the push of the dialogue of "Louie's At First and Main." it was apparent I found what I was looking for.

"Louie's at First and Main." a story of a homeless man named Dimitri who was dealt a bad hand in his life, so bad in fact that he lost his job and everything that's dear to him. He ends up finding refuge in an alley with only one possession of his own and his friend Louie (a shy guy with no shoes who ends up being a pigeon). As the world turns he is cast in and out of disapproval by his neighbors who don't really care about him until he becomes an inconvenience, other wise he lives his days, as Dimitri says,"invisible to the world around him."

The fact that the story was well thought up was the the first thing that came to my attention. The script (though I have not read it) seemed to be very original a one of a kind idea. When I first heard of this play believe me I had my doubts, though I did not think it was going to be a boring play I did think how could they make this subject entertaining. To my delight the playwright did a wonderful job.

In example of this well crafted piece of art. In the shadow of a very dramatic subject it redeems itself with its quick wit and random subjects brought on by an innovative game of conversations, where Louie and Dimitri pick one topic to talk with one another until its completely exhausted of material to talk about. These fun aspects keep you on your toes wanting more and add the much needed comedy relief. If the comedy weren't there you have a hard time following the story for they help create the essential back round of the characters.

In light of it all the dramatic elements were tastefully done as well. Although it sometimes dragged on a bit I was still able to follow where the story was going. With the help of quotes from scripture, politics, and a little history brought on by a very humble and intelligent Dimitri gives light to the deeper goings of his own past.

In the end I fell for this character as well as have a better understanding of myself and a major respect for all those living on the streets. I encourage all to see this story with open eyes and open hearts.

A Little Refinement, Please?

During the course of Louie's at 1st and Main, I continued to waver on how I felt about the acting. It seemed to go back and forth between good and not so good for a lot of the actors. Perhaps I should start by saying that I did like the actors. Just about all of them did well for their roles, despite many things that I would prefer to have seen changed. They all stayed in character, and with an exception of one or two, kept the fourth wall in place. I also feel that most if not all of the duo scenes seemed to drag unreasonably. Some of it seemed unnecessary and other times the energy seemed to lack focus causing it to drag. Well, as for specific characters, lets start with Tessie. I think she was the sole character that I didn't have a problem with at all. Her tonal quality was perfect for the role. She was the comic relief and did a wonderful job at it. She did make me wonder if she was breaking the fourth wall one time because she pointed at the one guy in the front, but then made it so that she was really staring at this invisible cat, which I, along with most of the audience, found rather humorous. And just to clear up, I didn't think it was an issue, it was just from where I was, it seemed like she was talking directly to this one guy in the front row, and the first time, he seemed to think so too. It was almost like a plot twist at the end of her scene. Dimitri I thought to have some consistency issues. Most of the time his acting was great for the role, but other times I thought the lines were delivered a bit over dramatic. However, although he started off rocky, he ended without a problem, and was probably the strongest actor there, which is very fitting for the lead.I thought that the actor who played Louis, had great potential. I often wanted more from him though. He did great and I was hoping for more and so it was a disappointment to find out he was going to remain static because he was really just a pigeon, despite the fact that it was a great idea to personify a pigeon with this particular story. I think one of the things that makes up for the minor negative parts, like some characters being too loud for the space or not quite developed, is the fact that the actors really connected with each other. I have seen performances, and have even been part of a couple, where the actors just aren't connecting. The entire cast was always connected to each other, be it in a negative, positive, or neutral way. It made it more realistic and drew me into the show more because of it.

Ember Dahl