A-LISTS theatre
Sam Woodhouse:
A DIRECTOR’S TAkE ON boom by bill biss
(l to r) Steven Lone, Rachael Vanwormer and Sylvia M’lafi Thompson in boom.
The San Diego Repertory Theatre is presenting the play boom from January 9 through January 31. How do you combine the end of
the world as we know it with a mismatched relationship that began with an Internet hook-up? Director Sam Woodhouse fills in the
details on this doomsday dating game that is both farcical and thought-provoking in Peter Sinn Nachtrieb’s boom.
The Rage Monthly: How did you come across Peter Sinn Nachtrieb’s play initially and what did “Barbara,” and Barbara has a truly amazing story to tell, a story to rival the book of
you take away from the story after reading the play? Genesis.
Sam Woodhouse: I was reading the magazine American Theatre and saw the
title “boom“—which instantly attracted me. I love a theatre event where story, Rage: Both Steven and Rachael are making their SDRep debut, but have performed in numer-
audience and actors collide in that magic moment of electric immediacy. When I ous plays at other regional theatres. What as actors do they bring to their performances?
then read boom I found myself violently awake with the pleasure of a wildly ambi- SW: Steven and Rachael are two of San Diego’s most skilled young actors. They
tious comedy about nothing less than the end of the world as we know it and the are sexy, vulnerable, surprising and agile performers—just what you need to
birth of the next stage of the human race! boom is hip, epic intimate and so very stage a play that is a mystery, a wild comedy and a smart sci–fi evolution story.
funny.
Rage: I read several positive reviews on Mr. Nachtrieb’s website…what do you hope San
Rage: The end of the world is not necessarily a humorous topic, yet this is described as a Diego audiences will take away from experiencing boom?
madcap comedy and also a bedroom farce. Can you describe the chemistry or lack thereof SW: boom offers delicious answers to these delicious questions: How do you
between Jo and Jules as the two main characters? find love when you are a long way from being a candidate for Project Runway?
SW: boom is first a “date play.” Jules is a brilliant but odd mad scientist who places Where did the human race really come from and where the hell are we heading?
an ad on Craigslist for “sex to change the world.” Jo, a journalism student, answers What would YOU do if YOU were the only hope for the survival of the human race?
the ad and shows up on a Saturday night hot to trot. She is seeking a weekend ad-
venture she can write about for a class assignment. But Jules has a bigger agenda Rage: Thanks Sam.
in mind: he wants Jo to be Eve to his Adam. And Jules is gay. And off we go.
Rage: Sylvia M’Lafi Thompson is described as the audience’s tour guide. Does she provide so- boom
cial commentary on the situations as they are going on or what does she bring to the story? San Diego Repertory Theatre
SW: M’ Lafi plays one of the most imaginative theatrical characters I have come January 9-31
across in years. She is the wizard and the puppetmaster and the “guardian “ of the For tickets and more information call The Lyceum box office
true story about the end and the rebirth of the human race. Her nametag says at 619.544.1000 or go to
sdrep.org
12 RAGE monthly | january 2010
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