On Thursday, September 30th, The Cryptogram by David Mamet opened to rave reviews. Toby Zinman of the Philadelphia Inquirer calls Simpatico's production "fierce and subtle and a must-see for any Mamet fan." You can read the whole review here: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/toby_zinman/20101002_A_brilliant__subtle_take_on_David_Mamet_s_family_drama.html
Ms. Zinman is even kind enough to mention several of the props that are crucial to the storyline and act as clues to unraveling the mystery.
On opening night, I had a great moment of Prop Master Pride when the German pilot knife was revealed for the first time. The audible gasp from the audience at its appearance was so incredibly gratifying. It was a prop success in so many ways. It is an exact replica of a World War II era gravity knife. It has a weight and severity about it when it propels from its handle. The sound it makes as it falls into place is like a guillotine - swift and sharp.
It is rare when a prop elicits a reaction from the audience. Props usually go unrecognized as they are mostly items in life we take for granted (tea cups on tea treys and bottles of booze) They are there to convey reality and therefore blend into the scenery. However, when the prop is a weapon, especially a knife in an intimate blackbox space, the audience's level of tension ratchets up. They won't take their eyes off it. A well propped stage weapon evokes this reaction without shedding any blood. My new gravity knife does just that.
Here's a video of me testing it out in the shop:
For tickets and information, go to http://www.simpaticotheatre.org/
Ms. Zinman is even kind enough to mention several of the props that are crucial to the storyline and act as clues to unraveling the mystery.
On opening night, I had a great moment of Prop Master Pride when the German pilot knife was revealed for the first time. The audible gasp from the audience at its appearance was so incredibly gratifying. It was a prop success in so many ways. It is an exact replica of a World War II era gravity knife. It has a weight and severity about it when it propels from its handle. The sound it makes as it falls into place is like a guillotine - swift and sharp.
It is rare when a prop elicits a reaction from the audience. Props usually go unrecognized as they are mostly items in life we take for granted (tea cups on tea treys and bottles of booze) They are there to convey reality and therefore blend into the scenery. However, when the prop is a weapon, especially a knife in an intimate blackbox space, the audience's level of tension ratchets up. They won't take their eyes off it. A well propped stage weapon evokes this reaction without shedding any blood. My new gravity knife does just that.
Here's a video of me testing it out in the shop:
For tickets and information, go to http://www.simpaticotheatre.org/
