Award-winning UK/CSU playwright Eric Prince crafts story to showcase talents of Wendy Ishii; Bas Bleu introduces Irish Blue Craic to Fort Collins
With the foundation of a 20-year artistic collaboration to build on, playwright and director Eric Prince and Wendy Ishii – founder and artistic director of Bas Bleu Theatre – have constructed a world premiere production for the Fort Collins theater community. “Bas Bleu is promoting new and original writing that is not available elsewhere,” said Prince, “Helping playwrights develop and refine their works has always been part of Bas Bleu’s mission,” explains Ishii.
Blue Kitchen, which the Liverpool-born Prince wrote to both feature Ishii on stage and to help celebrate Bas Bleu’s 25th anniversary season, tells the story of an Irish-American woman as she wrestles with the meaning of her cultural identity. As Ava, the protagonist, Ishii also explores “a woman’s abiding need to not only give love, but receive love,” Prince said.
The Irish flavor of Blue Kitchen also echoes how the creative relationship between Prince and Ishii got started, meeting in 1996 at an international theater festival honoring legendary Irish playwright Samuel Beckett. A year later, Ishii and Bas Bleu performed the American premiere for Prince’s play “Seance.” And in 1999 Prince become a CSU professor of theatre, and established its Center for Studies in Beckett and Performance, of which he is also director.
Wendy Ishii rehearses in Bas Bleu Theatre Company's rehearses production of "Blue Kitchen," March 22, 2017.
Blue Kitchen begins with a poem that Ava, the protagonist, recites quietly to herself. The play closes with another poem, the traditional Irish air “She Moved Through The Fair.” So, it was natural to incorporate – and to celebrate – music and poetry with an Irish craic (crack) -- with the liveliness of an Irish pub – as a prelude or opening act to Blue Kitchen. The point of craic is to “get you thinking, talking and enjoying life,” Prince explains.
Prince once again enlisted the talents of singer-songwriter Barbara Clark for Blue Kitchen and to help assemble artists for the craic. Clark wrote and performed the songs for the Prince-directed Samuel Beckett’s “Catastrophe” at CSU. She composed music for Bas Bleu’s production of Bertolt Brecht’s “Mother Courage” that featured Ishii and was directed by Prince.
For the Irish Blue Craic – that nightly showcases different musicians — Clark recruited fellow Fort Collins artists including Colleen Crosson, Jill Vesty and The Drunken Wailers, Derf Green, Mulligan’s Irish Musicians and others. Poetry and readings will come from not only poets such as Mary Crow and author Laura Pritchett and playwright Tammy Meneghini, but also community members Rick Miranda, Doug Hobson, Jose Luis Suarez Garcia, and others.
Ishii and Prince on the set during rehearsal.
Reflecting on what he hopes theatergoers take away from Blue Kitchen, Prince shared, “Thoughts about the nature of how we live and how we relate to one another – and our human identities.”
The Irish Blue Craic/Blue Kitchen is on the Tom Sutherland Stage from April 1 to April 30. March 30 is a free community preview (formerly student/educator night) and March 31 is pay-what-you-will night. Tickets are available from basbleu.org or (970) 498.8949 and cost $26 for adults, $20 for seniors, $13 for students and $10 for children under 13.
~ By Mishelle Baun, Media Specialist at Bas Bleu Theatre Company
CSU Student and Alumni Involvement
Current CSU students and alumni are integrally involved in the production of Blue Kitchen, including theatre majors David Van Name as lighting designer and Cooper Adams as sound designer. There are several alumni involved, including Robyn Cuthbertson (Dulye) as stage manager, Roxanne Storlie as Costume Designer, and John Burns, who graduated last year, is now employed at Bas Bleu as production assistant.
Eric Prince finds it very fulfilling to work alongside current and former students on projects such as Blue Kitchen. "Our relationship is so much easier and closer to that of equals, being involved and committed from a belief and enthusiasm in theatre itself, as opposed to it being a required class or required practicum for a grade," he explained. "Plus, I get to admire and respect the incredible skills our young people possess, clearly demonstrating they are ready and prepared for work in the industry itself, as well as contributing right now, artistically and creatively, to a significant local community enterprise."
Prince recalls, that in a personal sense, it was actually Bas Bleu that first brought him to Fort Collins 20 years ago. "I'm enjoying re-visiting the theatre, with something special like this, to celebrate Bas Bleu's amazing 25 years of life in Fort Collins."
Since graduating in 2012, CSU Alum Robyn Cuthbertson has taught at Debut Theatre Company in Fort Collins, directing a full load of four classes; Cuthbertson teaches kids all elements of theatre - costumes, sound, set, lights, makeup, hair - concluding each semester with a play.
As a CSU student, Cuthbertson stage managed a show at Bas Bleu, and has been asked back several times. "When [Tricia Navarre] approached me to assistant direct/stage manage Blue Kitchen, I jumped at the chance," enthused Cuthbertson.
Robyn (Duyle) Cuthberson in the Colorado State University Theatre Program's production of "The Caucasian Chalk Circle", December 2, 2008
While at CSU, Cuthbertson worked with Prince in many different situations: as a cast member on Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht and Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare; she wrote her thesis on The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde as Prince's dramaturg for the production; and, in 2011, she participated in CSU Theatre's Study Abroad trip to London, led by Prince, which she remembers as a magnificent experience. "I feel like I have a true understanding of the way Eric thinks from working with him so closely at CSU and also from the London trip in particular," she explained. "It has been a wonderful few weeks with Eric and Wendy, and I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of this show!"
Roxanne Storlie graduated from CSU 2003 with a degree in Apparel Design and Production and directed the "Dress for Success" fashion show her senior year. With a passion for constructing clothing and manipulating the textiles to achieve a unique look, Storlie has over thirty years of designing and sewing experience, often as head costume designer for both Bas Bleu and OpenStage Theatre.
Having moved to Fort Collins as a student, the decision to stay in Fort Collins was significant for Roxanne, who has made significant contributions to the entire theatre community.
For CSU theatre major Cooper Adams, this has been a rewarding senior year. Adams seeks outside work experiences and was also excited about the opportunity to work with Prince at Bas Bleu. "I like to work with a variety of directors so I know how to design for many different types of personalities and tastes," he said. "Working outside of CSU is very interesting because I don’t have as many of the same resources as I do on campus and I have to be more independent with my design."
Wendy Ishii rehearses in Bas Bleu Theatre Company's rehearses production of "Blue Kitchen," March 22, 2017.
Since Blue Kitchen is a premier work, the need for autonomy was heightened for Adams. "It has never been produced before, meaning there is nothing to reference and there is no ‘right’ way to do things." And while this could be overwhelming for some students, Adams is embracing the pressure, realizing the impact his sound design could have on future productions of the show. "I can really have an effect on how the show may be produced in the future. I really enjoyed the process and the production."
As the collaborative bond between Bas Bleu and CSU continues, students and alumni alike, including Adams, look forward to returning. "I would definitely work on a show with Eric again, and I look forward to seeing how audiences react to it!"