Our second week of the much lauded Sans Merci  by Johnna Adams has come and gone. 

It's always a bittersweet feeling to tear down the set and release the cast & crew for the final time in a run like this. This show demanded a lot of us, emotionally as well as physically, and we here at the Playground feel like everyone more than rose to the occasion, so in some ways we were more than ready to go home, crawl into bed, and not come out until Minnesota finally declared winter over. Still, when you have a team of people who meet challenges head on, get along fabulously, and do a fantastic job, "good-bye" is never exactly welcome. 

We are especially proud of how well our audiences responded to this show. For those who missed it, Sans Merci covers a lot of tough topics--most notably, sexual assault and murder. 

It does this through a sadly non-traditional format: from the eyes of three women. Female characters deal with these things frankly, and with little apology for their feelings or frankness. It is always remarkable to us, when we bill ourselves as a queer & feminist company, to realize how few scripts actually take place from the point of view of women--let alone queer ones, let alone ones that do not feel guilty to responding to human tragedies in human ways. 

This show was a triumph for us not only because of how our company and contracted artists handled the material, but because of how our audience did. It is an atypical show, after which people stood in the lobby talking to us for long periods of time. Our first talkback was particularly successful, as we delved headfirst into not only rape culture, but the acting & coping methods one develops when dealing with such things.  I guess what I'm rambling on to say, the point of this--is to say thank you. 

Thank you to the audience who came to a daring, dark show. Thank you to reviewers who loved this piece. Thank you to the actors who took these already lively characters and made them three times as good as we ever could have imagined---and of course, thank you to Original Works Publishing,  Gadfly company members, and our beloved, BELOVED donors and sponsors for even making it possible. Hopefully it was a process everyone got something worthwhile out of--we know we did.

Querulously Yours,

Cassandra Snow
(Partially speaking for my business-partner-in-crime and director of this show, Immanuel Elliott)

This past weekend (March 15-18, 2013) we opened an amazing production of Sans Merci by Johnna Adams. The cast and crew put on four performances in four days! After a couple days to renew themselves, they will be back for our final weekend.

We wanted to share what some of our audiences shared with us about their experience. If you want to share your feedback with us, please do so! 

"Sans Merci - the actors were epic. I have not been this moved by a play in years. The story is painful and beautiful. I recommend it to one and all - just bring kleenex!!! Okay, not only well acted, but truly well written and produced! - Thank you!" -Jack. M

"Intensely evocative and beautifully acted. One of my favorite plays thus far." -Annika R.

"Wow, sans merci  is a breathtaking show. it is raw and disturbing, with a tender and hopeful touch. a perfect reflection of our world... unfortunate cruelty coupled with a humanity reaching towards love and acceptance. paradoxical play, beautiful performance. thanks!" -Karen M.

"Fabulous Show!!" -Hector C.

"If new, 'bold,' provocative theatre is what you are looking for, then don’t miss this show...This will be a play you will remember and carry in your consciousness for a long time." -Nathan S.
Read Nathan's full review: http://backrowtc.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/sans-merci-gadfly-theatre-productions-march-17-2013/

Check in behind the scenes with BethAnne, Sandy, and Immanuel (Manny) and learn more about Gadfly's production of Sans Merci. Watch the video now and then share the link with friends!

Tickets for the final weekend are on sale now at Brown Paper Tickets. 

A big thanks to everyone who attended our Gadfly Salon! Especially....

The Sexual Violence Center who provided knowledgeable speakers on our panel.

Boneshaker Books who generously hosted.

And Pizza Luce for the amazing pizza.