Comments on: The Virilogy: A Drinking Game – Good To The Last Drop

By: Catching Up With Artem Yatsunov – One Catches Light Festival - The Happiest Medium

Thu, 28 Jan 2016 21:21:33 +0000

[...] first saw Artem’s work at UNDER St. Marks when he directed The Virology back in 2012. I was immediately drawn to his directing style and impressed with his talents. A few [...]

By: Artem Yatsunov

Artem Yatsunov — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:59:51 +0000

Karen – you are a gem! Thank you for your support, we hope to keep thrilling you. Our next production is coming up – it’s a different side of the pack. It’s “story time” with StrangeDog! 5 very funny dark short plays in a night called New.Tricks! At the Red Room Sep 13-29, Thur-Sat. Hope to catch you there and at the KGB Bar afterwards!
Best,
Artem

By: Karen Tortora-Lee

Karen Tortora-Lee — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 02:14:58 +0000

Not only will I travel to New Jersey for you guys I will encourage MANY others to do so as well. What I saw you create was truly memorable – something I didn’t expect going in and something I couldn’t forget after leaving. Just send me directions and I will hop in my car for Strange Dog ANY TIME.

Thanks for writing, Artem. Next show I will make a point of saying hello in person.
Karen

By: Artem Yatsunov

Artem Yatsunov — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 01:01:07 +0000

Dear Karen Tortora-Lee,

My name is Artem Yatsunov and I am the director of The Virilogy: A Drinking Game which you recently reviewed for this here Happiest Medium. Your review was both wonderfully written and incredibly touching.

Your article came to us as the very last review during our run and it completely humbled the entire cast and crew. So glad you enjoyed the show – and I’m completely beside myself that you discovered this bonding element in the night. To be perfectly honest it was something I never had to say out loud or ever discuss with the cast; bonding and seeking closure was and is the essence of this little tale and the core of the relationship of these three ever changing yet incorrigible men-children which we all immediately related to and, as per typical male relationships, never had to talk about. Of course you are right on point observing that this play did not start out as a Drinking Game, but having added this element we found night after night people responding in the way you so spot on identified: they were glad to be “in on it,” to be a part of the experience. It took us completely by surprise because it was so very much what we wanted out of the night and just weren’t sure was going to hit. And it’s not something I take lightly because that is a focus of my work – I firmly hold to that simple and basic esthetic of theatre: theatre is the art of story-telling for everyone. You pointing out how the notion of a bond was reverberating through the audience and that you felt a connection to your aisle neighbor was as an astute of an observation and as strong of a compliment as we could’ve ever desired, and could never been prepared for. From start to finish, thanks for getting what the night was all about.

We hope to see you at our next show, and of course you are absolutely always welcome back to check out everything we do! In NYC or in NJ (but who would want to go to Jersey, am I right?, come on.)

All the best to you in your work and thanks again for your immensely encouraging review.
Sincerely,
Artem