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Underneath
the Lintel by Glen
Berger Directed by Ceil Herman Featuring
Joe Denk as the Librarian
Set,
Light & Props Design ~ Peter Herman Costume
& Props Design ~ Meredith Loring Sound
Design ~ Ceil Herman The Production Team Assistants to the
Director …..…..Toni Marie, Betty Peterson Sound Board Operator …... ……………….…. Nancy Mickel Light Board Operator ………Joy Goldbaum, Heather Pfeiffer Publicity …………………………………...…….... Toni Marie House Manager
Coordinator ……..………. Deana Kessin
For reservations call
the Black Box Theatre at (505)-523-1223 or Click Here to make
an e-mail reservation Find a
marvelous mystery ‘Underneath the Lintel’
There’s a mystery
unfolding at the Black Box Theatre. It’s a funny mystery, but a mystery
nonetheless. It all starts in a library in This blows the
Librarian away and leaves him wondering who was the mysterious character who
checked out the book more than a century ago. Perhaps obsessed
is a better word for it. After looking through library files, the closest the
Librarian comes to an identity is simply: A. The Librarian,
determined to send the culprit an overdue fine, embarks on a worldly
adventure, collecting clues and specimens about the person who checked out
the book. Sure, the Librarian talks a bit about his life in the library, but
the play focuses more on his adventures to The Librarian —
both awkward and pensive — is a bit facetious, bringing humor to his audience
as he recalls his misadventures. He even schemes to get time off of work to
start his journey by feigning sickness. He’s got a week’s worth of
sick-leave, he explains. But a month and half later, he’s in pretty hot
water. Through the
heartache and humor that the Librarian faces, we begin to hope that he does
find out who left their mark 113 years ago. But we find that “Underneath The
Lintel,” is more about the mysterious person who checked out the book than it
is about the Librarian. The “Lintel”
looks at something that many a person has pondered throughout time: How can I
be remembered through time? How can I make a mark that will last through the
many years that will span mankind? How can little old me become significant in
the history of man? Suddenly, the “I was
here” marks scrawled on bathroom stalls seem more than insignificant
graffiti. The short
production is a great piece for Denk, who’s had more than 50 or so
performances in the With “Lintel,” Denk
shows off his abilities and teaches a thing or two about how a one-man show
should be executed.
"Lintel"
a one-man tale of mystery and adventure by Claire D'Mura Arts Editor The Roundup 9/29/05 The No Strings
Theatre Company is presenting “Underneath the Lintel” beginning Friday at the
Black Box Theatre. “Underneath the
Lintel,” written by Glen Berger, is a one-man show that explores the
adventure of a man who is only identified as “the librarian, played by Joe
Denk. The librarian lives a
dull but contented existence checking in books day in and day out at a Dutch
library. His life takes an adventurous turn when he finds a book that has
been returned 113 years overdue He is determined
to discover who has checked out the book, but finds the name of the patron
who checked it out is simply “A." The play opens on
a stage lightly decorated with books, a doorway and a large, brown suitcase.
Denk begins by addressing the audience, who has presumably come to see his
presentation of “An Impressive Presentation of Lovely Evidences.” What begins as a
quest to impose the biggest fine of his career quickly becomes a mystery much
greater than anything the librarian has encountered in his life. - The tale that
unwinds is the story of the librarian’s travels around the world in search of
the offending library patron. He presents his tale with anecdotes of his
travels and numbered pieces of evidence to back up his assertions of what he
thinks he has discovered. It is a mystery
that has taken the librarian around the world to places such as Denk portrays the
kindly librarian with charm and grace. He endears the audience to go along
with his story and hear him out to the end. Denk carries the entire play for
nearly an hour and a half by himself The humor of the
play is matter-of-fact and honest, and Denk delivers his performance
successfully. It is almost as if the character is unaware he has said
something humorous at all. The play almost drags
the mystery out too long, leaving the audience to become impatient and wonder
where the story is going. However, the pace picks up again as Denk begins to
tell the tale of his missing traveler with a folktale characteristic. The play is
enjoyable, yet offers much to think about. In the course of his explanation,
the librarian brings up questions about topics ranging from the existence of
God, to the value of a life and the occurrence of miracles. While the subject
matter can be very heavy at times, it iloes not make one feel beaten over the
head with a stick of morality. Denk softens the tone with his endearing
expressions, and the mood never stays too deep for too long. Also opening
Friday at the Black Box Theatre is a photographic exhibit, “Individual
Expressions.” The exhibit features work by There will be a
reception Saturday at 9:30 p.m., following the performance of “Underneath the
Lintel.” The exhibit will be open one hour before performances, or by
appointment. “Underneath the Lintel”
is showing at the Black Box Theatre Friday, and Oct. 7, 14 and 21 at 8 p.m;
Saturday, Oct. 1, 8, 15 and 22 at 8 p.m.; Sunday Oct. 9, 16, 23 at 2:30 p.m.
and at 7 p.m. Oct. 20.
Would you recognize a miracle if it happened
right in front of you? The Librarian (Joe Denk) thinks he has found something
extraordinary and would like you to take part in "An Impressive
Presentation of Lovely Evidences" to the fact. "Underneath the Lintel", written by
Glen Berger and presented by the No Strings Theatre Company, will be showing
at the Black Box Theatre through Oct. 23. This one-man show can only be
described as a comedic mystery on being human. The story begins in 1986 when a 113 year overdue
travel guide is returned to a Dutch library by a man known only as
"A." The Librarian’s quest to find this mysterious man turns to
obsession as he travels from country to country following A's trail. "I didn’t know what was happening to
me," the Librarian says. "I had heard that travel broadened the
mind, but at this rate I would need a sombrero soon." Throughout the presentation, the Librarian pauses
to muse about past love and the triviality of human life, never tarrying on
one subject for too long. Over an hour into his tale, you begin to feel that
his search has become more about finding a way to leave his mark in the world
than finding the man responsible for a long overdue book. The presentation is brought to life with slides
of the Librarian’s travels accompanied by lighting and music to help submerse
us in his travels. Joe Denk is superb as the obsessive Librarian,
from his frantic pacing across the stage to his fidgeting with the date stamp
he wears around his neck as his story moves through time. Denk has appeared
in more than 50 plays in This was my first experience with a one-man show
and it exceeded all of my expectations. I would encourage anyone who hasn’t
seen one to enjoy “Underneath the Lintel and see what you’ve been missing.
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