Highlands Ranch Herald 21
September 17, 2015
‘The Flick’ is lengthy but keeps audience on board
By Sonya Ellingboe sellingboe@coloradocommunitymedia.com
IF YOU GO
“The Flick,” Annie Baker’s long, sweet play that won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize, kept the opening-night audience engaged throughout on Sept. 5 at Curious Theatre. It’s summer, 2012. The evening is spent in the back rows of the Flick, a run-down single-screen movie theater in Worcester, Massachusetts, as we follow interactions over several days in the lives of a trio of young adults who are marginally employed there. Sweeping popcorn and other crud from the floors is endless, since there’s a new accumulation after each screening of a film on the ancient 35-millimeter projector. The perfect set, by Markas Henry, features four rows of old maple-backed theater seats, textured wall and 1950s wall sconce, with the projection booth at the rear. Somehow, the booth shoots out a movie without getting in the eyes of the audience. Throughout, the sound consists of old film scores — many identifiable to a true film geek, I’m sure. Baker must fall in that category — introductory material says she “spent many hours in her own quirky local cinema.” Young Avery, who is taking a year off from college, is just such a geek, and he took the job because of his love for the rapidly disappearing 35-milllimeter projectors in favor of digital equipment, which he hates. As the lights go up, Sam is showing Avery (Christopher Hayes) the not-too-challenging ropes of his new job. Sweeping popcorn and other trash becomes a rhythm that carries the story along through what turns out to be a three-hour evening. Sam (John Jurcheck) is a 30-something who can’t seem to
“The Flick” plays through Oct. 17 at Curious Theatre, 1080 Acoma St., Denver. Performances: 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: curioustheatre.org or 303-623-0524.
Avery (Christopher Hayes) and Sam (John Jurcheck) sweep and mop the Flick Theater while projectionist Rose (Laura Jo Trexler) chats at length in a scene from the play “The Flick,” by Annie Baker at Curious Theatre. Courtesy photo by Michael Emsinger move on into a more ambitious role in life. He is indignant that the manager promoted Rose (Laura Jo Trexler) to the projectionist role, even though he had been employed there longer. He is in love with the feisty Rose, but unable to tell her so for most of the play. Jurchek convincingly portrays the conflicted man with ideas seething beneath the surface. It is with his lines and interactions, in particular, that Baker’s scripted long silences appear. (Shades of Harold Pinter). It falls into a rhythm soon and is no longer distracting. “Time in an Annie Baker play bends and warps as she
gently insists that we pay attention that we may have otherwise, in a more tightly paced and logical work, overlooked,” said an essay by Adam Greenfield about “The Flick” at Playwrights Horizons, where it was first produced. “We need more weird plays,” said Baker in the Village Voice. The geeky Avery turns out to be really informed about films as he and Sam play name games as they sweep endlessly. When they learn that the theater is to be sold to a man who will replace the 35-millimeter equipment with digital projection, Avery writes an impassioned letter to the new owner — “It’s like only a postcard of the movie, instead of the movie itself … film is light and shadow on the day you shot them …” Trexler, a Heritage High graduate, returns to Curious after MFA study at Brandeis and, with her green hair and somewhat aggressive manner, becomes edgy Rose as we imagine that Baker wrote her. Theater lovers will certainly want to experience “The Flick.” Just reset your inner clock before it starts!
Walk the plank at Northglenn’s first Pirate Fest
By Corrie Sahling csahling@colorado communitymedia.com
weekend’s events:
In celebration of national Talk Like a Pirate Day, the city of Northglenn is throwing a pirate festival. The two-day festival on Sept. 17 and 18 is brand new this year and is expected to be busting at the seams with costumes, pirate talk and activities for the whole family. Here is a breakdown of the
Castle Rock/Franktown
Pirate Ball Friday evening’s festivities on Sept. 17 are for adult pirates only. Organizers have warned children tagging along will be thrown overboard. Come dressed as your most formal pirate self and be prepared for a costume contest. The night will feature food, drinks, circus performers and a live band. And, of course, a pirate ball wouldn’t be complete without a treasure
Highlands Ranch
hunt. The ball will be held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Northglenn’s E.B. Rains Junior Memorial Park, 11701 Community Center Drive. Pirate Festival The merriments on Saturday, Sept. 18, are for the whole gang. There will be many kid-friendly activities, including treasure hunts, archery ranges and a costume contest just for little ones. A highlight of the day will be the Cardboard Regatta — teams of pirates are be-
Littleton
Services:
Sunday 8am, 9:30am, 11am Sunday School 9:15am
Little Blessings Day Care
www.littleblessingspdo.com
Trinity
Lutheran Church & School
Sunday Worship 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Sunday School Bible Study 9:30am Trinity Lutheran School & ELC (Ages 3-5, Grades K-8)
303-841-4660 www.tlcas.org Greenwood Village
Be the best-dressed pirate For men: Typical dress includes a poet shirt, long pants on the baggy side with no pockets or zipper, a waistcoat and knee-high boots. For women: Normal garments
Lone Tree Lone Tree
First United Methodist Church
1200 South Street Castle Rock, CO 80104 303.688.3047 www.fumccr.org
ing put to the test to make a boat completely out of cardboard, tape and paint to race across the water at E.B. Rains while avoiding obstacles like cannonballs and skeletons. The festival runs from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., also at E.B. Rains Park.
Church of Christ
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Open and Affirming
Sunday Worship
8:00 AM Chapel Service 9:00 & 10:30 AM Sanctuary 10:20 AM St. Andrew Wildflower Sunday School 9:00 & 10:30 am
www.st-andrew-umc.com 303-794-2683 Preschool: 303-794-0510 9203 S. University Blvd. Highlands Ranch, 80126
Welcome Home!
Weaving Truth and Relevance into Relationships and Life
worship Time 10:30AM sundays 9:00am Spiritual Formation Classes for all Ages 90 east orchard road littleton, co
303 798 6387 www.gracepointcc.us
Sunday Worship - 10:00am Bible Study immediately following Currently meeting at: Lone Tree Elementary School 9375 Heritage Hills Circle Lone Tree CO 80124 303-688-9506 www.LoneTreeCoC.com
Beauty For Ashes Fellowship Church New church in a great location Meeting on Sunday mornings at 10am, in the Lone Tree Recreation Center
Tashlik 9/22, 7 pm, Kol Nidre/Erev Yom Kippur 9/23, 9:30 am, Yom Kippur/Yiskor 9/23, 5 pm, Yom Kippur/Ne’ilah All services held at Embassy Suites 10250 E. Costilla Ave.
www.cbsdenver.org
303-794-6643
Parker Community Church of Religious Science Sunday 10:00 a.m. at the historic Ruth Memorial Chapel on Mainstreet
303.805.9890 www.ParkerCCRS.org
Joy Lutheran Church Sharing God’s Love
SERVICES:
SATURD ATURDAY ATURD A 5:30pm
SUNDAY A AY 8 & 10:30am
Education Hour-9:15am
Pastor Rod Hank Joyful Mission Preschool 303-841-3770 7051 East Parker Hills Ct. • Parker, CO 303-841-3739 • ELCA www.joylutheran-parker.org
In a world where there is so much doubt and discouragement...so much hurt and failure... We ALL need the hope that things can get better for us! Download our App: BFA Church (Available for iPhone and Android)
Parker evangelical Presbyterian church Connect – Grow – Serve
Scan to automatically download the BFA CHURCH APP
To advertise your place of worship in this section, call 303-566-4091 or email kearhart@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com
Parker
Parker
Children’s Church is available for all ages.
Congregation Beth Shalom
High Holiday Schedule 7 pm, Erev Rosh Hashanah 9/13, 9/14, 9:30 am, Rosh Hashanah/
include a blouse with puffy sleeves, a bodice or a corset, harem pants or bloomers with leggings underneath and knee-high boots that are not high heels. Other tips: Pirates were known for mix-and-match textures and colors — the best colors are earth tones. For more dos, don’ts and videos to help bring out the pirate inside, visit thepiratefest.com/become-apirate.
Sunday Worship
8:45 am & 10:30 am 9030 MILLER ROAD PARKER, CO 80138 3038412125 www.pepc.org
Prairie is a welcoming congregation, and a caring community that nurtures mind and spirit, celebrates diversity, and works for justice. We believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Discover your own path … theist or non-theist. Sunday Services 10:30 am Pine Grove ElementarySchool 10450 Stonegate Pkwy Parker, CO 80134 prairieuu.org