xphiles unrequited places 3rd at National Theater Festival
06/18/05
by Scott Bloom

Well, I couldn't possibly go to bed on an eventful Saturday evening, after an exhausting and wonderful Festival this week, without spreading a little news about our Region II representative - the very first Maryland show to go to an AACT Festival!

What we saw here this week was eleven terrific productions from all over the country, including one from Heidelberg, Germany, which dazzled and inspired a small crowd of around 500 close friends in the beautiful old Civic Theatre here in downtown Kalamazoo.

As good as everything was, the top award winner was a production from Florida that was nothing short of breath-taking. Based on a translation of the Greek mythology told by the poet Ovid in his collection "Metamorphoses," this production stood out from the rest in many ways. With on-stage original music, and amazing movement and choreography, it was storytelling in the most imaginative and creative sense of the word. Daring dancers, sexy and beautiful bodies, drenched from an on-stage pool of water that unfolded in front of our eyes, moving to the narration of classic myths of love and tragedy. Truly inspiring. (On a personal note, by two minutes into the play I had already stolen the inspiration for exactly what I want to do with the set of "Les Liaissons Dangereuse" next spring.)

As for our own intrepid Maryland travelers, Bob and Rob and Adam did pretty well. They were pleasantly surprised by an award for Excellence in Ensemble Acting. Rob Heinly was thrilled by his own Excellence in Acting award, and the three of them were left speechless by tying for the 3rd Place Best Production award.

Ann and Sherman Ward, Delaware Regional Chair Don Dean, and Jan and I, of course, were ecstatic at the outcome. With so much quality work in this year's AACT Fest, even the chance to participate at this level is winning enough, but to come away with three truly deserved awards is a dream for all of us. Bob Bartlett, Rob Heinly, and Adam Brandao, we salute you and thank you for bringing great pride to our Maryland delegation, and to our region.

Hopefully, after a little sleep, I'll let you in on more of the details and the dirt. Suffice to say that Bob Bartlett, even if he never does another festival show, is inspired enough to be planning on being in Charlotte for the 2007 AACT Fest, and so should all of you.