Are you familiar with that inventive man from Germany Johannes Gutenberg who long ago created the printing press and produced the first copy of the Bible. This all happened way, way back in 1454 and, according to records, only 180 copies were engraved and stamped, with color added by the purchasers. Just 49 remain of this first large-format typographic book printed in Mainz, Germany, with just 42 lines on a page. Moveable type in Korea accounts for the first printed book nearly a century before.
If you are naturally curious and want to know more about Johannes, then Playhouse on Park in West Hartford has just the answer for you. Before Sunday, February 8, plan to visit "Gutenberg! The Musical” created by Anthony King and Scott Brown for a history lesson courtesy of two energetic and enthusiastic men Jeremiah Michael Ginn and John Wascavage as Bud Davenport and Doug Simon with Miles Messier on piano as Charles and Jimmy Donohue as swing.
You are comically invited to the mostly imaginative journey to the world of Johannes Gutenberg, without benefit of Wikipedia or Google or any historical documents. “Gutenberg! The Musical!” originally written in 2005, centers on Bud and Doug who deliberately and determinately want to create a play about this guy named Gutenberg who is the only one in his depressing German town named Schlimmer who can read. One night this inventive lad decides to turn his wine press into a printing press and Bud and Doug find themselves off and running making stuff up, from A to Z, to create a highly fictional version that may or may not have a page or fact of truth.
Bud and Doug want to become producers on Broadway and set about “selling” their concept to any one with money enough to fund it. They stretch their talent and their truth, overlooking the facts as minor in significance. With a limited amount of talent, the pair are forced to play all the cast, using a series of hats with their characters’ names on them and switch the caps like Dr. Seuss’s story about Bartholomew’s 500 hats.
Aiding Gutenberg is his less than brainy but beautiful assistant Helvetica (note the pun on a printing type) and Monk, the villain of the piece, who is determined to foil Johannes in his quest by distorting the Bible verses and destroying the printing press. In this musical spoof, they sing all the songs and enthusiastically play all the parts. Their hope and dream is to persuade the producers to fund their crazy project straight to stardom.
For tickets ($ 55 adults, $52 students and seniors,$25 10:30 a.m.), call Playhouse on Park, 244 Park, West Hartford at 860-523-5900 ext. 10 or online at http://www.playhouseonpark.org. Performances are Tuesday at 2 p.m., Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.,Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 pm., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. followed by a talkback.
Show your ticket for a 10% discount at Gather 55, a theater dining partner.
A hearty Bravo and Hats Off to Bud and Doug for their exciting new adventure, and hope they break a leg or three along the way to Broadway.
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