BWW Interviews: Director Richard Kuhlman Talks Whitefire Theatre's GREEKS 5 – TROJANS 5

Theatre Planners presents Greeks 6 - Trojans 5, a world premiere comedy with music written by Chuck Faerber, similar in style and spirit to "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" but whackier, involving Greek soldiers embedded in the fabled Trojan Horse. Although set in the ancient world, Greeks 6 - Trojans 5 is a hilarious, eccentric, and irreverent send-up of modern warfare, technology, and mores (yes - mores!). The play runs through September 8, on Saturdays at 8pm, with a Sunday matinee at 3pm. Buy Tix/info: www.plays411.com or (323) 960-7774. Whitefire Theatre 13500 Ventura Blvd Sherman Oaks 91423.

- interview by guest writer Steve Peterson

When did you first get interested in theatre; what was the attraction and/or need?
I was first drawn towards theatre, or as I like to call it... '3_D Communication' when at a family gathering in Ohio I made my Aunt Kaye laugh so hard she seemed scary. She's very smart, and was at college at that time. I was in grade school, and in speaking her height of intelligence was always way above my understanding. I cannot recall exactly what I said to make her double over, but I think it was a song parody of some Bible hymn.

Although you've performed dramatic roles and directed dramas - - there's a lot of comedy on your resume. How did you get started in comedy and improv comedy in particular?
I was cast in a high school production of Paul Sills' Story Theatre, the man who co-created Theatre Games and Second City in Chicago. We were encouraged to improvise to find our several characters and I loved it. It seemed second nature to me, and later on, when I moved to Chicago to pursue acting professionally, I was able to work with Paul on several projects. I also was cast at Second City for improv work I did in a comic version of Hamlet as Hamlet. Those experiences lead to applying improv skills to most aspects of my life, and teaching improv in classes around the country.

What drew you to this particular project?
I had worked with our playwright Chuck Faerber on his Countermen play 2 years ago, and he mentioned the Greeks 6 project then. I read the script and we began to meet up with notes and ideas, but his basic structure, story and characters have changed little; I just added the director's eye and asked questions of logistics and nonsense. I think we work well together as a theatre team. I like to describe Chuck as being a playwright who has the vocabulary of G.B.Shaw, and this play of his is the offspring of a coupling between A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Jospeh Heller's Catch 22.

What is the play about?

It's the true, documented, authentic inside story of what went on inside the Trojan Horse at the climax of the Trojan War; specifically who was there, what they said and did, who loved who, what they ate, the songs that they sang, the fears and fun they had, and why the battle strategy of Agamemnon was so brilliant. I think. I mean, I bet it's true. I'm pretty sure. Maybe. Probably yes.

What are the challenges with this play?
The setting is the belly of the Trojan Horse. A few benches and floor space. My challenge has been to stage the action with variety and clarity, with songs and fights and love scenes and visits from the Gods. The pleasure has been working with our strong, smart ensemble of actors who know their skills, and keep their eyes on the prize of telling this story of characters with endless performance imagination.

You once said, "Comedy is harder I believe to make sharp and honest, and to look fresh and not rehearsed." How do you go about achieving that?
The trick here is to create an environment that challenges the actor and also puts them at ease, so that they have fun jack-assing around in rehearsals to discover their characters, and how they each fit into the story. The work place has to be loose and structured at the same time. And when the moments are discovered, that flowing comedy river has to be maintained so as to not flood it's banks or run dry. It becomes a study in trusting the Moment to Moment reality, and recreating that each night. Making it the first time each time, like it's never been done before but with the assuredness of a well-rehearsed play.

What do you want the audience take-away with them after having seen the show?
Our production is the birth of a grand new play with music and the LA audience who sees it gets to experience it first, before it becomes a staple in American Theatre. I really think that this play will have great legs to carry it on to many future productions, once the word hits the theatre streets. It's an exciting piece, sometimes satirical and always silly. It's light on its feet and engaging from the first moments. The ending is smart and clever, and the journey it takes an audience on is perfect for a summer's evening of relaxing and laughing.