Ten Questions. Ten Answers. And One Big Decision: Rock, Paper, Or Scissors?

Boogie Of The Apes

Production Company: Broom Street Theater

A parody of one of the best-loved sci-fi franchises of the 1970′s. With the help of vintage children’s records and other found material, we’re recapping, lampooning, and critiquing the first four Planet Of The Apes movies–in less than an hour. Also, there are dance numbers.

Show Times:

• Wed 2/26 @ 5:30pm
• Fri 2/28 @ 7:05pm
• Sat 3/1 @ 5:15pm
• Sun 3/2 @ 2:05pm
• Mon 3/3 @ 7:05pm

Answers by Rob Matsushita
(playwright and director)

1. Your tag line is out there on postcards and press releases so we know the PR version of what this play is about.  But when you talk to your family and friends, how do you explain the show to them?

RM: Remember those read-along comic books from the 1970′s? We’re taking the recordings from them, lip-syncing them, and acting them out–but the thing is, we’re acting them out based on how a little kid might interpret them. Of course, we’ve layered on a lot of jokes, and other fun stuff. We wanted it to be in the spirit of a 70′s variety show. It’s also a love-letter to the Planet Of The Apes movie franchise, and a way of getting to the bottom of why these movies were so popular. But really, it’s joke-after-joke, gag-after-gag.

2. Here’s a scenario: After the show some audience members go have a drink.  What’s the part of the show you hope they’re discussing?

RM: Generally, that it was funny, and maybe spark a discussion about all the stuff we loved when we were kids. Specifically, the shocking nature of what made it into a children’s album in the 1970′s. There was some dark stuff they allowed on kid’s records back then.

3. What drives your show – character, theme or plot?

RM: Theme, definitely. It’s strange for me because I’m usually a very plot or character based writer. But this was really something that I did because it’s fun to do.

4. In rehearsals, read-thrus, or prior incarnations, what’s the one thing someone said about the show so far that made you (or the team) the most proud?

RM: The cast just loves performing this show. This is the second time doing it for most of them, but those who returned did so because they had so much fun the first time. One cast member, on closing night, gave me a card that said “Why does it have to END?!?”

5. Let’s fantasize for a moment. Let’s take the “off-off” off. Imagine this show is on Broadway. Would that change the production itself?

RM: The ethic of the shows I’ve done that are based around children’s records (or, “Boogie Shows,” if you will) is that they should always be cheerfully low-budget. Everything should look like we’re putting it together with things we found around the house. So even if we had a high-budget, I’d like to think we’d still be shopping for props at the dollar store.

6. Taking that one step further – after paying everyone what they’re worth of course, what is the most lavish, luxurious, pointless thing you would spend money on if there was no constraints?

RM: Oh, I’d do one of those multi-poster ad campaigns, y’know, where each cast member gets their own poster design, where they’re standing in a Superman pose, looking tough, while stuff is on fire in the background or something. I’d plaster them everywhere. Maybe have special Happy Meals, too.

7. Is there a scene, a moment, a gesture … anything at all in the show that you anticipate may get a completely different reaction depending on the audience that night?

RM: There’s a sort-of implied human/ape relationship at the end of “Escape From The Planet of the Apes,” that…well, I’ll say that WE groan at it every time. But I’d never cut it, ever.

8. What’s your favorite line from the show?

RM: “Previously, on ‘Planet Of The Apes,’ the world exploded.”

9. Is the world of this play sustainable outside a theatre? In other words … do you think people live the way the characters do? Would you want a world where they do?

RM: The world of this play is barely sustainable in this play! What’s always been funny to me about children’s adventures albums is how badly they hold up under any thought at all. That doesn’t mean I don’t love them. If they made more sense I might not love them as much.

10. You scan the audience and you see a face that stops you dead in your tracks – who is it? And why are you shocked?

RM: Andy Serkis, who plays Caesar in the new movies. I’ll be honest. I’ve fantasized about seeing him at a performance.

Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of DEAAAAATH

In the THM virtual Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of DEAAAAATH which FRIGID Show do you take on? And what do you throw?

CHALLENGES:  Basic Help Those guys are from Montclair, New Jersey, where I grew up, so a fight is inevitable.

THROWS: Rock. Because of Eagle Rock! (Ah, a Montclair reference which totally everyone gets.)

CHALLENGED BY: Steve: A Docu-Musical who also threw rock!  So our first throw down of the FRIGID SEASON IS A DRAW!!!! Ooof.  Wow.  Don’t worry, Boogie, I took a sneak peek and you’ve been called out more than once, so keep checking to see if your rock brings you to victory in the future!

Thanks Boogie Of The Apes for participating in The Happiest Medium’s FRIGID New York Festival 2014 Q&A. And for playing our game! You’re officially ROCK in any and all challenges.  You may win, you may lose – who knows! This is how it works in the crazy world of the Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of DEAAAAATH!

For the rest of you don’t forget to check out Boogie Of The Apes !

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Horse Trade Theater Group will present the 8th Annual FRIGID New York Festival at The Kraine Theater (85 East 4^th Street between 2^nd Avenue and Bowery) and UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1^st Avenue and Avenue A) February 19-March 9. Tickets are available for purchase in advance at www.FRIGIDnewyork.info or by calling 212-868-4444. 

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