Thursday, May 26, 2011

Clockwork goes dark for Memorial Day weekend, but ho! Another review!

A Clockwork Orange is on vacation this Memorial Day weekend, but will continue with shows the first weekend of June. That hasn't stopped the Frederick News Post from releasing a review of the show, featuring some insight from director Julie Herber and our little Alex, Joe Jalette:

"Herber appreciated Kubrick's film but stayed true to Burgess' play for the MET production, despite knowing audience members would quite possibly expect something different because of the popularity of the film.

'It changes the entire story arc of the character,' Jalette said during an interview."


Read the rest of the article here: Frederick News Post: Cult Classic 'A Clockwork Orange' comes to the MET Stage

It's been a blast so far performing this show and I'm excited to get back to it, but for now, I'll try my best to enjoy a three day weekend... gee whiz! ;)

See you at the theatre!

-Vanessa

Friday, May 20, 2011

Two Reviews for "A Clockwork Orange"


Two reviews of A Clockwork Orange from opening weekend have been released:

Charlie Smith of Want2Dish:
"Joe Jalette delivers a riveting performance as the abused and confused anti-hero Alex, bringing vividly to life his tortured psyche and search for identity. As the only character in the ensemble piece with a through-line, it falls upon his shoulders to carry the show and engage the audience in his journey."

Read the rest of this review here: Want2Dish: Theater Review: MET's Clockwork Orange

Roy Meachum of The Tentacle:
"The brilliant cast [Herber] worked with I have mainly never seen before. The actors turn in a truly ensemble performance, switching costumes and roles discriminately."

Read the rest of this review here: The Tentacle: A REVIEW: Clockwork Orange: Coming of Age


We dive into our second weekend of shows tonight! If you want to come, better call and reserve- opening weekend sold out completely and it looks as if we may be having more sold-out houses in the weekends to come! Information follows below:

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
A PLAY WITH MUSIC
BY ANTHONY BURGESS
DIRECTED BY JULIE HERBER

May 20, 21 @ 8pm
June 3, 4 @ 8pm
June 5 @ 2pm
June 9, 10, 11 @ 8pm
June 12 @ 2pm & 7pm
June 16, 17, 18 @ 8pm

BUY ONLINE HERE or call the box office at 301-694-4744, press '1'

Adults ($23.50), Students/Seniors ($20.50), "First Friday" (All Seats $5 on 5/13 ONLY*), Thursday & Sunday Evenings (All seats $16.50). Ticket price includes a $1.50 handling charge.

No Refunds- Exchanges Only!
Please do not order tickets online after 4pm on the day of the performance you wish to attend.


Viddy you at the MET!

-Vaness

Friday, May 13, 2011

Frederick Gazette explores "A Clockwork Orange"

$5 Friday for A Clockwork Orange is TONIGHT!

If you're in the Frederick area, come on by the MET, hang with our horrorshow street team droogs and kupet a ticket for tonight's show! Tickets are deng only (that is, CASH only) at the door and go on sale starting at 7pm when the box office doors open. No advance reservations, first come, first served!



Performances take place at: Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick Street, Frederick, MD

For information or to reserve tickets for other dates, call the MET box office at 301-694-4744, press '1' OR order online HERE

Yesterday's issue of the Frederick Gazette featured an article for A Clockwork Orange that staff writer Jordan Edwards interviewed me for:

"This is what Alex and his droogs do for fun in 'A Clockwork Orange.' The Anthony Burgess novel and Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation that followed are notorious for their brutal depiction of violence toward women. It may come as a surprise, then, that two of Maryland Ensemble Theatre's [MET] main contributors to the company's stage production are female.

Director Julie Herber and fight captain/ensemble member Vanessa Strickland have come to terms with the misogyny. Strickland, an Olney resident who plays some of Alex's victims, says that friends and family have questioned her involvement with the show. Some even made the decision not to see it.


Read the full article here.

I couldn't be happier with how the article turned out and I'm hoping it gives some insight into our intention with this piece.

Viddy you this nochy, then, doobidoob?

-Vanessa
www.vanessastrickland.net

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Viddy well my droogies, viddy well...



I am unbelievably excited to announce that I will be performing in Maryland Ensemble Theatre's upcoming production of A Clockwork Orange! We dive into tech next week and I'm really happy with what this show is becoming. Aside from telling Alex's story, there's an abundance of fights, dances, and songs interwoven into the text. For such an intense play (and really any play), the actors need to be able to trust each other. Rehearsals have been an exercise in trust and generosity, and speaking for myself at least, I have not been let down.

I think of how magical live performance really is... and I've already waxed sentimental about when this show closes, even though we've not opened yet. The ephemeral nature of the work is what makes the process and people involved so special. This creative amoeba comes together from the hearts of those involved, reaches out and causes others to react, and then leaves with the scattering artists and audience. A moment there and gone.

I've already received all kinds of feedback from friends, family, and colleagues about this show; varying from excitement to repulsion. As a performer in the ensemble who plays most of the characters who suffer at the hands of Alex, I have to say both reactions are completely valid. I accepted the role because of my love for the story, the theatre, and the chance to perform with a really amazing bunch of people. We want to bring you on that journey with us, through chaos and fear to eventually emerge with a new sense of hope- or at least a new perspective. Isn't that the idea?

I hope you'll join us and find out:


A CLOCKWORK ORANGE: A PLAY WITH MUSIC
BY ANTHONY BURGESS
DIRECTED BY JULIE HERBER


In future Britain, charismatic delinquent Alex DeLarge is jailed and later volunteers for an experimental aversion therapy developed by the government in an effort to solve society's crime problem... but not all goes as planned. Forget your memories of the cult film, this infamous darkly comic morality tale will bend your mind in a whole new way. For mature audiences only!

May 13 @ 8pm [Preview]
May 14 @ 8pm [Opening]
May 20, 21 @ 8pm
June 3, 4 @ 8pm
June 5 @ 2pm
June 9, 10, 11 @ 8pm
June 12 @ 2pm & 7pm
June 16, 17, 18 @ 8pm

Tickets: Adults ($23.50), Students/Seniors ($20.50), "First Friday" (All Seats $5 on 5/13 ONLY*), Thursday & Sunday Evenings (All seats $16.50). Ticket price includes a $1.50 handling charge.

*$5 Preview tickets are only available at the box office one hour before the performance and are CASH ONLY!

No Refunds- Exchanges Only!

Please do not order tickets online after 4pm on the day of the performance you wish to attend.

-Vanessa
www.vanessastrickland.net