ABOUT | TICKETS | WEBISODES | PICTURES | FAQ & A w/ MARK JACKSON | PRESS & REVIEWS

The Companion Piece:
FAQ & A with Director Mark Jackson

Q: What is The Companion Piece?
A: It’s a new theater piece about a performing Duo struggling and failing to make an act.

Q: Is it a play?
A: Essentially, yes. But there was no script written in advance. The actors, director and designers created the piece together through improvisation.

Q: Is the show improvised every night, then?
A: No, it’s a set piece much like any play. Improvisation was used to create it. There are characters, and their story is told not so much through plot but rather by way of the various acts they try to make, and dreams they have about their hopes and aspirations. It’s very theatrical.

Q: Is it kid friendly?
A: It’s very funny and there is a lot of classic, clean Vaudeville-like entertainment – singing, dancing, clowning, magic. However it is about an adult couple and although there are no sexual situations there is occasional adult language and the relationship themes might go over a young child’s head. I think kids would be very entertained by it, though.

Q: What is “vaudeville?”
A: Vaudeville was a form of variety entertainment very popular in the United States from the late 19th century through the early 20th century. A lot of old-time celebrities like Mae West, George Burns and Gracie Allan, the Marx Brothers, and W.C. Fields started their careers in Vaudeville.

Q: Is The Companion Piece a vaudeville show?
A: No. But the characters are trying to create an act that is reminiscent of a classic Vaudeville act.

Q: I’ve read that the show was “devised.” What does that mean?
A: That just means the show did not originate with a script written by a playwright in advance. The director, actors and designers get in the rehearsal room together with an idea for the show and improvise with props, costumes and scenery in order to create scenes and situations. Such a process can yield any number of results in terms of style. But I’d say The Companion Piece very much resembles a play in that there are characters and they struggle through things together. You don’t need any special knowledge about theater to enjoy it. It’s a lot of fun.