October 2002

Marie Jones, Author Stones in His Pockets

Born in Belfast, Marie was writer-in-residence for Charbanc Theatre Company.  Marie’s plays have toured extensively throughout the world including the former Soviet Union, Germany, coast to coast in America, Canada, Britain and Ireland. Her recent plays include an adaptation of The Government Inspector, A Night in November, Women on the Verge of HRT, Eddie Bottom’s Dream and Stones in His Pockets which toured Ireland prior to the Dublin Theatre Festival, Lyric Belfast, Grand Opera House Belfast, the Edinburgh Festival, the Tricycle Theatre London and the United States.

Other dramas include Lay up your Ends, ‘Oul Delph and False Teeth, Girls in the Big Picture, Somewhere over the Balcony, The Hamster Wheel, The Terrible Twins, Under Napoleon’s Nose, Hiring Days, Don’t Look Down, Yours Truly, The Cow the Ship and the Indian, Christmas Eve Can Kill You, It’s a Waste of Time Tracy, Gold in the Streets, Now You’re Talking, Hang all the Harpers, and Ethel Workman is Innocent. She has also written a number of television plays and worked as an actress, playing Sarah Conlon in the Jim Sheridan film, In the Name of the Father. She has received the John Hewitt Award for outstanding contribution to culture, tradition and the arts in Northern Ireland and the C.B.E. for the Queen’s 2002 Birthday Honors for her “services to drama.” Marie lives in Belfast with her husband, actor/director Ian McElhinney.

 “I got involved in plays and theatre as a punishment. I was in trouble at school and getting detention and my teacher decided that I make better use of my time by joining the Drama Club. I was horrified, thinking that all the swots would be there doing Shakespeare. I walked into the classroom and saw students rehearsing for a musical called The Boyfriend. I couldn’t believe it, they were kicking their legs up in the air. From that moment on I thought: I’ve found something that can let this personality of mine be.”- Marie Jones
 
 

Getting to know Mark Ellmore

Mark Ellmore* (Charlie)

Mark is absolutely thrilled to be making his first appearance at The Hippodrome State Theatre. He received his MFA in Acting from Brandeis University and has worked in film, television, and several New York and regional theatres, including Delaware Theatre Company, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Phoenix Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Company and Main Street Theatre (PA). He appeared in the 60th Anniversary New York production of Waiting for Lefty, and the world premiere of Caryl Churchill's After Dinner Joke, which was chosen as one of 'In Theatre' magazine's top ten NYC productions.

Is this your first production by Marie Jones?
This is indeed the first play by Marie Jones that I've done, and I think she's brilliant.

What intrigues you about Stones In His Pockets?
What's wonderful about this play for me is the incredible challenges it poses for an actor... not only in successfully creating such a wide range of characters and dialects, but the telling of the story demands that the actors do it well or the audience will get lost very quickly. The story, itself, makes a touching and sometimes hilarious statement about self-destructive choices and the loneliness which can result from them... sometimes ending in tragedy.
 
 

Getting to know Paul Taviani
 

Paul Taviani*  (Jake)

Paul is thrilled to be making his debut at the Hippodrome with Stones In His Pockets. In New York City, where he resides, Paul most recently appeared as Edward in the Irish playwright Frank McGuinness’ Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me, produced by The Theatre Asylum, of which he is a founding member. Regionally, he has performed at Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany, NY, where he appeared in the roles of Birdie Owers in Terra Nova, and Einstein in Picasso at the Lapin Agile. He has also worked regionally with the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Coyote Theatre, Nora Theatre and Phoenix Theatre Company. In NYC, Paul has worked with the Century Center for the Performing Arts, Westbeth Theatre Center, Ontological Theatre, Creative Place Theatre, West Bank Café, and Expanded Arts. He has appeared on Law and Order, and in a number of independent films.
 

Is this you first production by Marie Jones?
Yes, this is the first Marie Jones play I've done. In all honesty, I'm not that familiar with her body of work, though it seems to be quite extensive.

What intrigues you about Stones In His Pockets?
The play is a challenge, no question about it. At times, it seems overwhelming, but knowing that, I'm all the more thrilled to be taking a crack at it! Let's face it, it's the kind of opportunity that any actor worth his or her salt would jump at the chance to do, especially so soon after it was done by the original cast in New York.  It makes you feel kind of special to be in the vanguard of what are sure to be a myriad of regional theatre productions of this play. Let's get to work!
 
 

TURNOVER! SPEED! MARK IT!ACTION!

Hollywood has descended upon Ireland and Jake and Charlie are learnin’ a wee bit about the biz. They are two of many local extras hired at 40 quid a day to appear in a new western-romance, Quiet Valley. Last time around John Wayne’s The Quiet Man brought a lot of attention to Ireland. It’s no wonder the lads and lassies of County Kerry are excited to have celebrities traipsin’ about their pastures. Or is it?

Stones in His Pockets is a hliarious and poignant tale that asks the question, “What happens when Hollywood invades a sleepy Irish village?”  Tinsel town brings some much needed revenue to Kerry, but the two boyos who lead us through this comedy also learn that big business is a bit dodgy! The contrast between life in the movies and life in rural Ireland makes for an evening of unique humor especially when the actors playing Jake and Charlie take on all of the play’s roles. The characters - as varied as Ireland’s many shades of green – include 1st Assistant Director Simon, an ambitious Dubliner; 2nd A.D., Aisling - young, pretty and eager to impress; Clem, the quiet, somewhat daft English director; Caroline Giovanni, the demanding American diva; Jock, her Scottish brute of a bodyguard; and Mickey Riordan, a local bloke whose claim to fame is being the oldest living extra from “The Quiet Man.” Other culchies (local country people), riggers (crew members) and chancers (dodgy characters) add to the on- and off-camera shenanigans of this moving comedy hit that won the London Evening Standard and Olivier Award (London’s “Tony”) for best comedy.

Stones in His Pockets is a real tour de force for its author, actors and director. It will stimulate your imagination and take you on a joyride through the rollicking cow country of the Emerald Isle. Its protagonists are ordinary heroes who are unwilling to let Big Business blur their dreams. See why The Guardian said “[Stones] is clearly magical…dealing as it does with myths, memories, class and sex, with two actors who create a whole world on stage.”

The Hippodrome was one of the few regional theatres to obtain early rights to produce Stones in His Pockets! Be the first to see it and join us for another landmark event: the launch of the Hippodrome’s 30th Anniversary Season! Make history with us. It will be a bleedin’ deadly good time!

Previews: August 28 & 29. Run: August 30-September 22
 
 

Renovations of the theatre’s historic building

On your next visit the Hippodrome, you will see major exterior renovations of the theatre’s historic building.  The entire building looks like it did when it was first completed in 1911.  It has been a mammoth project that has taken the work of many organizations and individuals.

We want to thank the City of Gainesville, City Commission, City Manager Wayne Bowers, Asst. City Manager Carl Harness, Dept. of Cultural Affairs Director Lem Moore, Carl Thorne and everyone at The State of Florida Historic Preservation Board and the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, the Fine Arts Council of Florida and the Cultural Facilities program.

We also want to thank all of the people who have been working hands on: Facilities Management Director Larry Abbott, Architect James McGinley, James Roach of Construction Research Services, Michael Treadway of Ewing Waterproofing Systems Inc., Wayne and Terry Hinote. We want to give a very special thanks to Richard Travers and Stewart Gordon, two artisans that have lovingly brought our building back to life.  They have treated this magnificent building with true loving care.

We have to especially thank our own Building Manager, Brian Roe, for his love of the building, his constant care, and his incredible work on this project.