Its time again to take a look at this months Stories on Stage performance. If you’ve missed my previous columns on this amazing piece of literature-meets-theatre then here is another chance to witness one of the best kept secrets in Denver. Stories on Stage, now in their 10th season, brings short works of fiction to the stage, read by some amazing, award winning, and nationally recognized actors.
This month, Stories on Stage is presenting three short stories all with the theme “Secrets and Lies.” These short stories are guaranteed to amuse and surprise in equal measure, as they deal with the human propensity to stifle the truth, even when such lies gain us nothing. Of course, we all have some direct experience with lies and secrets, but I thought it would be fun to find out what lies and secrets the actors of this production would be willing to share.
John Hutton, who is reading the short story titled Walter John Harmon by the well known author E.L. Doctorow, shared a fun couple of lies. “I used to lie to my commercial agents when I lived in New York. I hated going out on commercial auditions and instead of just telling them that, I would lie about my whereabouts when they’d call.” Of course one lie would turn into another:
John: “I’m out of town for a few days”
Agent: “That’s ok, they are seeing people next week.”
John:“Oh well, next week my brother’s going into the hospital and I promised I’d take care of his dog…in Montana.”
Agent: “Ok, well you can go to call backs.”
John Robinson is another well known actor taking part in Stories on Stage, reading The Lie by T. C. Boyle. When asked about his experience with lies and secrets he had this to say, “When I worked in New York City as a long-term temp at a non-profit, I routinely made up stories so I could spend the afternoon at the movies. Then my wife, who worked an incredibly stressful job, would get home and wonder why the house was a mess and there was no dinner, and I’d have to tell her I was trashed at work.” But, in agreement with John Hutton, Robinson had this to say about auditions, “In general when an actor says he can’t meet with you because he has an audition, well… it’s not him, it’s you.”
Want to hear more secrets and lies? Check out Stories on Stage – this Saturday, November 13th at Su Teatro at the Denver Civic Theatre. There are two chances to catch these incredible actors reading works of fiction to wisk you away into another world – for at least a couple of hours.
Stories on Stage presents
Secrets and Lies
“Oh, what a tangled web we weave.”
Saturday, Nov. 13
1:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.
Su Teatro @ the Denver Civic Theatre, 721 Santa Fe Drive, Denver.
Tickets $25
Online at www.storiesonstage.org or by phone at 303-494-0523
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