Thursday, June 18, 2015

Punk or Provocateur with...Alyssa Block

Name: Alyssa Block

Hometown: Rochester, NY

Tell us about The Roaring Girl: It's a post-Shakespearean sex comedy. Need I say more?

Describe The Roaring Girl in 3 words: deliberate, cheeky, obscene

Who do you play in The Roaring Girl?: Mistress Openwork

Describe your character in 3 words: gullible, dramatic, affectionate

Which company member is most likely to be a roaring boy or girl?: Guys, I've been meaning to tell you. Moll is my alter-ego.

Most likely to get in a brawl?: Jacob, while defending a lady's honor.

Who’s the fanciest?: Erin is one of the most graceful people I've met in my many travels, so she gets the bid here. Grace equates to fancy for me.

What is the best thing about being a part of The Roaring Girl?: The creative problem-solving and humor of Anais and the cast. It's a messy little play and we're all having a great time figuring it out.

What is your favorite moment in The Roaring Girl?: I'm particularly excited about some of the transitions Anais has staged. They all serve to clarify or extend the story, and one of my favorite moments is the transition "My Thing Is My Own." It pretty much sums up my character.

Why The Roaring Girl now?: Because it's a gender-bending romp through the life of a woman who chooses what she wants to be, how she wants to present herself, and what she wants to do. It smashes many of the same ideals of femininity that we still cling to today. This is a story where the leading lady neither has romance on the brain, nor stumbles across love by accident over the course of her adventures. She doesn't crave it, and I would say that's still a rare concept in entertainment today.

Punk or Provocateur?: Oh, definitely provocateur.

Have you ever performed in rep before? What are the challenges/struggles?: Nope! This'll be a new experience!

What are you most excited to see in the other play?: I'm told it's completely different from ours: dramatic, super contemporary, a tiny cast. I want to see the other side of the coin.

Why should we come see Punks and Provocateurs?: This play is so rarely performed! You'll see 12 productions of Romeo and Juliet in your lifetime, but who knows if you'll ever get a shot to see this one again? Skip that Shakespeare show and come see us! Plus Everyday Inferno is a group of really cool, thoughtful, skillful artists who are doing wonderful things. Support that.