“The Brick” Soars Above the Waves

Hollywood Fringe Festival 2017 imageA man brings his guitar and a cooler out to the beach, and as he faces the setting sun tries to decide whether he can make peace with the ghost of his abusive mother or if his memories of her need to sink beneath the waves of the approaching tide.

So begins The Brick – A One Man Musical written and performed by Bill Berry and directed by Kelly De Sarla.  It is an interesting story that Berry tells of his German mother trying to come to grips with her memories of surviving World War II and her inability to understand his love of music or as she calls it “clang-clang,” and Berry shows both wit and pathos in relating the tale.

This alone would make for a strong show, but it is Berry’s “clang-clang” that rises the evening to an exceptional experience.  For in seeking to make his decision he resorts to singing to the surf.

Berry comes across as one of the rarest forms of performers in these times of ours – the balladeer.  Whether singing of a youthful escapade to steal a store display of Steve Martin or of finding himself as a teenager infected with a bad case of the crabs, the songs he sings are melodic morality lessons.

Platinum MedalNot all the tunes carry a humorous intent, some celebrate the humanity that Berry has encountered throughout his life, while others seem to challenge it; such as the titular piece “The Brick” with the refrain, “You can tell a lot about a man by what he uses his brick for —“

On the beach, Berry’s character is facing the same choice; memories or bricks to either build with or to break with.

Not to be missed – a PLATINUM MEDAL.

 

♦    ♦    ♦

 

The Brick – A One Man Musical

Running During  The Fringe 2017 at

Asylum @ Studio C
6448 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038

For Schedule and Tickets:
http://hff17.com/4418

 


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Written by

An award-winning L.A. playwright and rabble-rouser of note who has hoisted glasses with Orson Welles, been arrested on three continents and once beat up Charlie Manson. His first play, "Among the Vipers" was a semi-finalist in the Julie Harris Playwriting Competition and was featured in the Carnegie-Mellon Showcase of New Plays. It was produced at the NPT Theater in Ashland, Oregon and Los Angeles’ celebrated Odyssey Ensemble Theatre. His following play, “The Little Boy Who Loved Monsters” was produced at The Hollywood Actors Theater, where he earned praise from the Los Angeles Times for his “…inordinately creative writing.” The play went on to numerous other productions including Berlin’s The Black Theatre under the direction of Rainer Fassbinder who wrote in his program notes of Kearney, “He is a skilled playwright, but more importantly he is a dangerous one.” Ernest Kearney has worked as literary manager or as dramaturge for among others The Hudson Theater Guild, Nova Diem and the Odyssey Ensemble Theatre, where he still serves on the play selection committee. He has been the recipient of two Dramalogue Awards and a finalist or semi-finalist, three times, in the Julie Harris Playwriting Competition. His work has been performed by Michael Dunn, Sandra Tsing Loh, Jack Colvin and Billy Bob Thornton, and to date, either as playwright or director, he has upwards of a hundred and thirty productions under his belt, including a few at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater as puppeteer. Kearney remains focused on his writing, as well as living happily ever after with his lovely wife Marlene. His stage reviews and social essays can be found at TheTVolution.com and workingauthor.com. Follow him on Facebook.

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