An Inside Look at Crescendo Falls

Is it possible to see the form of theater changing directly in front of your eyes?  Well, if it is, here's your chance to check it out with Crescendo Falls, the current production running at the Kraine Theater which is coining itself "episodic theater." 

 

 

 

Crescendo Falls is a six week long production from November 14^th through February

13th, that spoofs soap operas from every potential angle.  From the music, stances, sex, lies, murder and mayhem to the sometimes crazed fans who follow these series, Crescendo Falls leaves no stone unturned; everything about America's guiltiest pleasure is an open target. 

 

 

 

Crescendo Falls is a well thought out, tongue and cheek play.  Each show follows a continuing storyline leaving the audience with a cliff hanger to be fulfilled during the next week's performance.  But don't let this deter you from seeing the production if you didn't catch the play from the very beginning.  Each performance conveniently features a re-cap with the "Gossip Whore" played by Anderson Lim before the newest episode comes to life on stage.  In his hilarious monologue, Lim let's the audience in on the secrets, lies, and romances that they missed from the previous weeks.  Lim's performance alone is reason enough make you want to come back and see the next episode.   In the re-cap, you come to understand the tone of mockery the play holds.  You find that Crescendo Falls is conveniently located only a mere hour away from Los Angeles and New York and is a town that thrives on the decadent affairs and backstabbing antics of its residents.  Life in Crescendo Falls is lived over the top and so is the plot. 

 

 

 

"The script is completely outrageous," said Sean Attebury who plays two characters in the show, "but is played straight.  Everything that's going on for the characters is not funny, instead, the stakes are high.  And that's what makes it so hilarious to the audience." 

 

 

 

Keeping with this theme, the actors are encouraged to not talk about futures episodes of the play or the fate of their characters if you see them after the show.  If you even try to attempt this, you hear that they signed a multimillion dollar contract which swore them to secrecy.

 

 

 

"Everyone has these cliché ideas of what soap operas and their characters are all about and that's why I was drawn to the script," said cast member L. Jay Meyer.  Meyer compared the play to the infamous "Omorosa."  "You love to hate her and that's what this show includes.  If the stereotypes seen on stage in Crescendo Falls weren't appreciated, there wouldn't be a Crescendo Falls. This production is about the stereotypes we love to laugh at."

 

 

 

"It's a perfect show no matter where you stand on soap operas," said Ben Evans.  "It's a hilarious show.  Soap fans will love it and appreciate all the nuances it incorporates and people who can't stand them will appreciate the humor as well."

 

 

 

Evans' character of Dr. Grant Sterling is an example of the genius behind the writing and direction of Crescendo Falls.  Instead of allowing any roadblocks the play encounters to stand in the way of the production, Crescendo Falls uses them as a way to enhance the humor.  Evans will only star in Episode Two due to last minute schedule conflicts and can not see the play through its conclusion.  Although his character is a major piece to the plot, what could be seen as a problem is turned into yet another way to parody a classic soap opera stereotype.  In this case, the actor will change, without any warning or explanation which is often seen in beloved daytime soaps.  Instead the audience will simply be informed that the role of Dr. Grant Sterling will be played by someone else and leave it at that.  Evans's desire to participate in Crescendo Falls is a credit to writer Kevin Hammonds.  Evans said that the concept of Crescendo Falls is so unique and fun that he wanted to be apart of it, if only for one episode.  It was simply a role in a play that could not be turned down.      

 

 

 

Although Crescendo Falls is only in its second run in New York, it's an idea that's been years in the making for Kevin Hammonds. 

 

 

 

"The play you will see now is 75 percent different from the original idea that developed years ago," Hammonds said.  "The idea of Crescendo Falls evolved from a group of friends and I who use to get together and try to write scripts for television.  That's were the idea of episodic theater first came to life."

 

 

 

Although at first this seemed like a difficult idea to successfully pull off on stage, it was an idea Hammonds believed in and continued to tweak until he was pleased with the final result.  Originally, the play started out with each episode running for a month a piece. Although this format did provide some benefits compared to its current form, Hammonds realized that there was a better direction to take the script.  Soon the idea of Crescendo Falls was chiseled down to an "episode-every-other-week" production.  Although this timeline reduced the number of available rehearsals, it also allowed actors to make a commitment to a complete play without taking up six months of their time.  

 

 

 

"It pushes the cast," Hammonds said.  He explained that this format takes stage actors to a place often unfamiliar to them.  In essence, six different plays needed to be learned for a short running production.  A play like Crescendo Falls pushes the limits of actors to see how much they can delve into their character(s) while still pulling off a professional production which appeals to the audience.  From previous runs of Crescendo Falls in markets such as Houston and New York - where it was chosen by NBC as part of its new search for original comedy - Hammonds and his cast understand that the push is definitely worth it. 

 

 

 

"The script at times can be hard, but it keeps things interesting and fun," said Jessica West Regan who echoed why many of her cast members enjoy working with it. "The continuing episode format in theater is an original idea and it gives you a taste of the real thing that soap actors go through."

 

 

 

"It's great training for actors to be a part of this type of script," said L. Jay Meyer.  "Since each episode is repeated twice in a week's time span, your experiences in the second run of episode one will be different because you're now rehearsing for episode two."

 

 

 

So if you're interested in seeing an evolving form of theater or even if you just want a break from your typical theatrical routine, Crescendo Falls is a play worthy to be seen.  The play will be running on select dates through February 13^th at the Kraine Theater at

85 East Fourth Street between 2^nd and 3^rd Avenues (Bowery).  Tickets are available through smarttix.com for $15.  Use BroadwayWorld.com promotional code BWWEP1 for discounted tickets. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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