Post 3 - When First We Practice to Deceive: Denver Center debuts GREAT WALL STORY
Reprinted from Prologue, the Denver Center Theatre Company’s subscriber newsletter
GREAT WALL STORY is a clever playwright’s riff on a daring—some might say foolhardy—event that transpired in Denver on the cusp of the 20th century. Four journalists looking for a story and finding none, conspired over drinks at The Oxford Hotel to concoct a tall tale sure to draw attention. China, they declared had decided to tear down part of its Great Wall with the help of American entrepeneurs. It drew attention all right—and a few unintended consequences.
That real incident lies at the heart of Lloyd Suh’s new play, GREAT WALL STORY, which was read at the 2011 Colorado New Play Summit. The rest of this world premiere is a playwright’s comic fantasy, with plenty of inventive twists and turns.
Below is one excerpt from the actual phony stories printed in The Colorado Republican.
BUILDS HIGHWAY OF CHINESE WALL
American Capital to Construct a Road of Stones From the Wonder. Mayor Harrison of Chicago Is One of the Men Interested in the Project. It Will Extend From Nankin to the Border of China and Siberia.
… One of the passengers arriving on the Burlington at 6:20 p.m. yesterday was a slightly built man of pleasant address, who registered at the Oxford as Frank C. Lewis, Chicago. He took dinner at the hotel, and at 10 o’clock retired in the Pullman car on the Union Pacific train which left the Union depot this morning for San Francisco.
Mr. Lewis is a civil engineer, and a member of the American Association of Scientists. He represents a syndicate of Chicago capitalists, one among whom is Mayor Harrison of that city… Mr. Lewis is en route to Pekin, where he will continue negotiations begun by him some months ago for the building of a road which will eventually become the highway between Nankin and the vast empire of Siberia…Extent of the Project.
In speaking of the matter last night, Mr. Lewis said, “I spent several years in China engaged in railroad building and my relations with the government are such that when the project of building a macadamized highway from Nankin to the northern border was first broached, I saw an opportunity… This plan was suggested first by an Englishman named Wallace, who is one of the directors in the Hong Kong railway… There is a fair chance that it will be carried out.
“Wallace will put in a bid to build a portion of the big highway and the syndicate which I represent will do likewise. If we get a portion of the contract now the Chicago men will make an effort to increase their capital stock to $5,000,000 and devote years to the work…”
Mr. Lewis will sail for China immediately upon reaching San Francisco.
GREAT WALL STORY plays Denver’s Ricketson Theatre March 16-April 22. For information or tickets, call 303.893.4100.
Post 4 - When First We Practice to Deceive: Denver Center debuts GREAT WALL STORY
Reprinted from Prologue, the Denver Center Theatre Company’s subscriber newsletter
GREAT WALL STORY is a clever playwright’s riff on a daring—some might say foolhardy—event that transpired in Denver on the cusp of the 20th century. Four journalists looking for a story and finding none, conspired over drinks at The Oxford Hotel to concoct a tall tale sure to draw attention. China, they declared had decided to tear down part of its Great Wall with the help of American entrepeneurs. It drew attention all right—and a few unintended consequences.
That real incident lies at the heart of Lloyd Suh’s new play, GREAT WALL STORY, which was read at the 2011 Colorado New Play Summit. The rest of this world premiere is a playwright’s comic fantasy, with plenty of inventive twists and turns.
Below is one excerpt from the actual phony stories printed in The Denver Post.
OLD WALL MUST GO
China’s Great Causeway to Be Razed – A Chicago Syndicate Wants the Contract
According to Frank C. Lewis, a Chicago civil engineer, who was yesterday a guest at the Oxford hotel, the Chinese government contemplates the destruction of the ancient Chinese wall that separates China proper from China Tartary, and Mr. Lewis is en route to China to assist…
“The plans of the Chinese government are not generally known concerning the great wall, I believe,” said Mr. Lewis last night, “but they appear actually to contemplate a great improvement. Through the proper diplomatic channels the matter has been broached to engineers and capitalists in America, England, France, Germany and Russia and bids are solicited. I represent certain Chicago financiers who see a good thing ahead.
… “The road is to be wide enough to accommodate a railroad and many concessions of the greatest value are held out… It will bring a vast commerce, I should think, to the port of Shanghai, the chief city on the gulf I have named, and also give a great boom to Pekin, which is only a few miles distant from the great wall…
“I understand that the enterprise is one of the Chinese government’s own conception and is independent of Russian, German or French influence… I anticipate that there will be sharp competition.”
Mr. Lewis said that he has information that a New York syndicate is the only other American concern after the project and that there are two British syndicates out, a French syndicate and three German ones…
GREAT WALL STORY plays Denver’s Ricketson Theatre March 16-April 22. For information or tickets, call 303.893.4100.
Post 2 - When First We Practice to Deceive: Denver Center debuts GREAT WALL STORY
Reprinted from Prologue, the Denver Center Theatre Company’s subscriber newsletter
GREAT WALL STORY is a clever playwright’s riff on a daring—some might say foolhardy—event that transpired in Denver on the cusp of the 20th century. Four journalists looking for a story and finding none, conspired over drinks at The Oxford Hotel to concoct a tall tale sure to draw attention. China, they declared had decided to tear down part of its Great Wall with the help of American entrepeneurs. It drew attention all right—and a few unintended consequences.
That real incident lies at the heart of Lloyd Suh’s new play, GREAT WALL STORY, which was read at the 2011 Colorado New Play Summit. The rest of this world premiere is a playwright’s comic fantasy, with plenty of inventive twists and turns.
Below is one excerpt from the actual phony stories printed in The Denver Times.
CHICAGO TO DEMOLISH THE OLD CHINESE WALL
One of the greatest undertakings ever attempted by an American syndicate in foreign lands gives promise of blossoming into fruit.
Frank C. Lewis, a well-known railroad builder of Chicago … was at the Oxford last night. Mr. Lewis is representing a syndicate of Chicago capitalists, and is on his way to Pekin (sic), China for the purpose of negotiating with the Chinese government with a view to tearing down a portion of the Chinese wall.
“I lived in China for four years,” said Mr. Lewis, “and during that time I was interested in building a great many miles of railroad. While in that country, the subject was quite frequently discussed by those in power as to the advisability of tearing down at least a portion of the historic wall, and using the ruins for the purpose of making a roadway to Nankin …
“While it is not an assured fact that we will secure the contract we are now figuring on, still I am inclined to the belief that it is a possibility. The company I represent has a capital $650,000 in cash, and I have been instructed to use every effort to secure the opportunity of doing the work.
“Of course, we know that it would bankrupt the Chinese government if they concluded to tear down the entire wall, but when you take into consideration the fact that we can hire laborers for a few cents a day, a large amount of work can be accomplished on a few millions of dollars. This subject has been broached a number of times and I have great confidence of meeting with success…
“Some of the wealthiest and best known capitalists of Chicago are interested in this enterprise and my instructions are to grab at everything in which there is a chance to make money…”
GREAT WALL STORY plays Denver’s Ricketson Theatre March 16-April 22. For information or tickets, call 303.893.4100.
When First We Practice to Deceive: Denver Center debuts GREAT WALL STORY
Reprinted from Prologue, the Denver Center Theatre Company’s subscriber newsletter
GREAT WALL STORY is a clever playwright’s riff on a daring—some might say foolhardy—event that transpired in Denver on the cusp of the 20th century. Four journalists looking for a story and finding none, conspired over drinks at The Oxford Hotel to concoct a tall tale sure to draw attention. China, they declared had decided to tear down part of its Great Wall with the help of American entrepeneurs. It drew attention all right—and a few unintended consequences.
That real incident lies at the heart of Lloyd Suh’s new play, GREAT WALL STORY, which was read at the 2011 Colorado New Play Summit. The rest of this world premiere is a playwright’s comic fantasy, with plenty of inventive twists and turns.
Below is one excerpt from the actual phony stories printed in The Chicago Daily Tribune, which appears to have been the verbatim text by the perpetrators of the Denver hoax.
PLAN TO RAZE CHINESE WALL
Frank C. Lewis Seeks Contract for Chicagoans — Mayor Harrison Said to Be Interested, but Laughs at It.
Denver, Colo., June 25 — [Special] — Frank C. Lewis of Chicago was at the Oxford Hotel last night. Mr. Lewis represents a syndicate of Chicago capitalists and is on his way to Peking, China, for the purpose of negotiating with the Chinese government with a view to tearing down a portion of the Chinese wall.
“I lived in China for four years,” said Mr. Lewis, “and during that time was interested in building a great many miles of railroad. While in that country the subject frequently was discussed by those in power as to the advisability of tearing down at least a portion of the historic wall and using the stone for the purpose of making a roadway to Nankin (sic). The idea was to pulverize the rock and use it in the roadways. While it is not an assured fact that we will secure the contract we are now figuring on, I am inclined to the belief that it is a possibility. The company I represent has a capital of $650,000 in cash, and I have been instructed to use every effort to secure an opportunity of doing the work.
“Some of the wealthiest and best known capitalists of Chicago are interested in this enterprise.”
While Mr. Lewis would not give the names of those interested in the company it is believed here that Mayor Harrison and numerous other prominent men are interested in the proposed plan. Mr. Lewis left for the West at 4 o’clock this morning.
At the residence of Frank C. Lewis, 2100 Orrington Avenue, Evanston, last night, it was stated that Mr. Lewis had left Chicago for Pittsburgh. Members of his family said they had heard of the Chinese wall project, but that Mr. Lewis was not going to China. They declined to give details.
Mayor Harrison laughed when asked if he were interested. He said he was too busy at home to bother about China’s ancient ramparts.
GREAT WALL STORY plays Denver’s Ricketson Theatre March 16-April 22. For information or tickets, call 303.893.4100.
Day 6: Colorado New Play Summit concludes
A packed house of 500 patrons just saw the final reading at our 2012 COLORADO NEW PLAY SUMMIT. Based on the novel by JANE AUSTEN, with Book & Lyrics by Jeffrey Haddow and Music by Neal Hampton, SENSE & SENSIBILITY THE MUSICAL was a lovely conclusion to our three-day new play festival.
If you haven’t seen the interviews, please tune in to get a glimpse at what happened during this extraordinary event:
KENT THOMPSON, Artistic Director, Denver Center Theatre Company
BRUCE K. SEVY, Director of New Play Development, Denver Center Theatre Company
SENSE & SENSIBLITY THE MUSICAL
Mark your calendar for next year’s Summit Feb 8-10, 2013.
Day 5d: Colorado New Play Summit
Our second day of readings (more if you are in a cast) wrapped up with the world premiere of Samuel D. Hunter’s THE WHALE. Read last year during the COLORADO NEW PLAY SUMMIT, this new, riveting play was recently extended for an additional week.
This moving play about a man who has dealt with adversity by eating his way to the brink of death, had the 250-person crowd riveted. Determined to reconcile with his estranged daughter and sacrifice his own health so that he can leave her all that he has, this play is what the Summit is all about - development, hard work and dedication to the craft of playwriting.
Tomorrow the Summit concludes with brunch followed by a reading (or shall we say singing) of SENSE & SENSIBILITY THE MUSICAL by Jeffrey Haddow and Neal Hampton. Jane Austen fans - be ready!
Day 5c: Colorado New Play Summit
Michael 
Mitnick’s multi-media play, ED, DOWNLOADED, just let out at our COLORADO NEW PLAY SUMMIT. Question: if you were able to preserve 10 memories, what would they be?
That’s exactly what Ed’s wife discovers following his death. Set sometime in the future, Ed had the ability to preserve 10 memories that would live in perpetuity. Unfortunately for him, his wife didn’t agree with his choices and she edits his memories to fit her emotional needs.
Mitnick was commissioned by the DENVER CENTER THEATRE COMPANY; our one stipulation? Incorporate multi media. Our in-house multi-media designer, Charlie Miller, captured the preserved memories on video that provided a backdrop and catalyst for the action on stage.
Next up is the world premiere of Samuel D. Hunter’s THE WHALE. Stay tuned.
Day 5b: Colorado New Play Summit
We’ve just wrapped up our third reading of the COLORADO NEW PLAY SUMMIT. Lisa Loomer’s HOMEFREE was a moving play about three homeless youths. During the course of the play, we gained insight into each of their motivations behind seeking a life on the streets vs. the relative security of their own homes or a shelter.
Consider what “Homefree” means - free of the constraints (rules, confines, expectations) that you might find in a home. Whether by force or by choice, the homeless individuals in the play each had a poignant story to tell. One central character, JJ, sang a common refrain: “I’m living my life in shades of gray,” that proved to be a metaphor for each of the lives we encountered in this new play.
Next up, Michael Mitnick’s multimedia workshop - ED, DOWNLOADED. What happens when you can download 10 memories that live in perpetuity and your wife doesn’t agree with your selections?
Day 4c: Colorado New Play Summit
Following two exciting new play readings, our guests headed into the world premiere of TWO THINGS YOU DON’T TALK ABOUT AT DINNER. One of the most exhilarating aspects of a new play festival is when you can see the play’s development from a reading one year to a full production in a subsequent year.
That’s what we experienced with Lisa Loomer’s play about how the taboo topics of religion and politics can threaten relationships. How will it change? Will it match how you imagined it? Will you be disappointed or surprised? The sense of wonder is all around us and we dive in.
Following the well received play, we all piled into The Jones Theatre for the late-night and immensely popular PLAYWRIGHTS’ SLAM. Think of a poetry reading. Playwrights regale audiences with excerpts of pieces in development. Participants include:
Samuel D. Hunter Lisa Loomer Lauren Feldman Michael Mitnick Richard Dresser Jeffrey Haddow Karen Zacarias Marcus Gardley Eric Schmiedl Kirsten Greenidge
Spirits are high and the crowd is loving it. What a great way to end the first day of our readings!
