In Mad Mel and the Marradians, a writer’s phony scholarship stumbles upon a deadly plot by ancient aliens – and then they invade. In pearls.
Despite the play’s premise, playwright Gary Morgenstein insists it’s not what you think.
“It’s a sci-fi political comedy,” said Morgenstein, a Jersey city resident. “At the heart of it, it’s really about how governments – whether they’re on Earth or at the ends of the Milky Way Galaxy – lie to the people, so, it’s got political overtones, on both sides of the aisle. But as a work of speculative fiction, it covers a very wide range of human interactions.”
A self-described “sci-fi geek” who currently works as director of communications for the Sci-Fi Channel, Morgenstein said his work is influenced by the early “Star Trek” shows.
“I love the sci-fi genre. What I love about it is it’s so broad, so thoughtful and it allows you to do so much, and you can make some really great analogies with it, but do it in a light-hearted way you can make political commentary without hitting people over the head.” – Gary Morgenstein
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Director Carlo Fiorletta, who directed another Morgenstein production last year, agreed, adding that “Mad Mel and the Marradians” has universal down to earth themes that will resonate with audiences, despite its science fiction roots.
“On the face of it, the play is about aliens from another planet who come to this planet. Culturally, because they’re aliens, there’s a lot that they get wrong,” said Fiorletta. The aliens, for example, often confuse our entertainment icons – Lady Gaga, Reese Witherspoon’s character in “Legally Blonde” – with our political leadership. “But the play is really about human relationships and that’s where I angle my directing. I focus on the love elements that are there in the script.”
The play’s unusual title refers to the character Melvin Worthington, played Rob Gaines, whose relationship with girlfriend Anita is cooling off at the same time things are heating up with Joan, played by Rachel Caccese.
“From the directing aspect, what I look at is what needs to be done to make it work in the context of the hour and a half that’s allocated by the [theater festival],” Fiorletta added.
Of course, that also means making a sci-fi plot work in the context of live theater – which is no easy feat. Keep in mind, there’s no CGI or special effects on stage. Fiorletta and Morgenstein admitted that off-off-Broadway theater productions, known to work on shoestring budgets, have to go low-tech to achieve their desired effect.
“It’s a challenge but you can make it work. There are things you can do with lighting, staging, coloring of the lights. But ultimately, you have to work with the strength of the writer, the script, and the actors to make it work,” Fiorletta said.
Morgenstein’s play is among several that will be performed next month as part of the 12 Annual Midtown International Theater Festival.
Somewhat similar to the East Village’s annual Fringe Festival, the Midtown International Theater Festival celebrates plays that step outside typical theatrical boundaries. The festival’s purpose is to nurture new ideas, perspectives, and stories in the hopes of guiding them toward future success as staged productions. Founded by Off-off-Broadway Review publisher John Chatterton, several festival shows have gone on to be produced beyond their festival run.
“Mad Mel and the Marradians” will be performed as part of the Midtown International Theater Festival and debuts on Monday, July 11 ay 6 p.m. Additional performances will be staged through Thursday, July 28. Shows will be staged at the Main Stage Theater, 312 West 36th Street in New York. For more information, visit www.midtownfestival.org.
E-mail E. Assata Wright at awright@hudsonreporter.com.