Traveling Light by Lindsay Harris Friel

The Layman's Cemetery
July 9 - 28, 2010

London's not so swinging when you're trying to kill yourself.

It's 1967 and Brian Epstein crashes a cemetery, looking to check in to residency. Joe Orton follows him, looking for some tail...or to talk to Brian about the screenplay he's written for the Beatles. (You know, whatever comes first.) They argue rewrites and ponder the making of a man. Some clothes come off. More clothes come off. There's a lot of scrabbling in the dark. Within weeks, both of them would turn up dead. But they might have had this meeting, they might have had this chance. They might each have had something to risk and something to save.

The Cast:

Brian Epstein – David Beukema
Joe Orton – Wade Vaughn
WPC Foster – Rachel Finch
Constable McDonald – Shannon Troy Jones

The Crew:

Director – Natalie Novacek +#
Directing Observer - Amber Bjork +
Stage Manager – Christian Carter
Dialect Coach – Michael Bruckmueller
Designer – Carin Bratlie +
Marketing Coordinator – Christopher Kehoe +
Graphic Designer – Kris Heding +
Photographer – Charlie Gorrill

+ Theatre Pro Rata Company Member
# Associate Member Stage Directors and Choreographers Society


Press:

"...go see it." - AbsolutRufus
"...a heady brew of a show that remains engaging." - MinnPost
"...wistful and bittersweet." - City Pages
MPR - Interview with Lindsay Harris-Friel, Natalie Novacek and Susan Hunter-Weir
MPR - Weekend Outlook Highlight
MinnPost - Spotlight
TC Theater Connection - Interview with Carin Bratlie, David Beukema and Wade A. Vaughn
Lavender Magazine - Highlight
Lavender Magazine - Names Traveling Light one of the best shows of 2010
Metro Magazine - Lists Traveling Light as one of the "Five Laudable Productions Outside the Expected Environs"
Southwest Minneapolis - Lists Traveling Light as one of 2010's "10 Fantastic Performances"

"David Beukema and Wade Vaughan will change the way you see The Beatles forever in Pro Rata's astounding production of Lindsay Harris Friel's Traveling Light performed on site at Layman's Cemetery. Rachel Finch is sublime and fascinating as a cop who is finding how she fits into a situation where gay men dominate. Brilliantly directed by Natlie Nocacek." -John Townsend on KFAI's Fresh Fruit, streaming at www.kfai.org until July 28, 2010.