For this girl-power Performing Arts Q&A, George Adams, Jessica Rosalie Bisel, and Catherine Pitt discuss the play, Pizza Man, showing at the Paramount Theatre.
What five words would you use to describe Pizza Man?
GEORGE: Comedy, Girl-Power, and a Pizza Man.
JESSICA: Sexy, wild, broody, vengeful, intense.
Now, using more than five words, what’s it about?
GEORGE: It’s about two women, Julie (Jessica Bisel) and Alice (Catherine Pitt) who’ve both had a crappy day and decide to take it out on the first guy they meet. It’s a hot Los Angeles summer evening and Julie is broke and disillusioned, she drinks and listens to her music full blast. Her roommate Alice comes home in the midst of an eating frenzy; who has also had a really bad day. Suggesting a way to vent their man-caused frustrations: they pick a guy, any guy… to take “advantage of.” Enter the pizza delivery man (Todd Clark) who agrees to come in and share a beer with them. The evening gets crazier, wilder, angrier, and very, very funny.
JESSICA: Julie and Alice are having bad days and men are to blame. Trying to understand it all Julie takes out her aggression on Eddie while Alice maintains the peace.
CATHERINE: Two roommates who are having a bad day make some very questionable decisions.
What are some unique aspects for your version?
GEORGE: We’ve added some nuances to the stage direction and made it our own.
JESSICA: The play was written in the 80s….so changing land lines and a little black book to a couple cell phones was a way to make it more present day. A lot of the sexiest ideals throughout have changed a little over time but surprisingly not much.
CATHERINE: Jessica and I have been friends since college, so I feel that we bring a special kind of kinship to Julie and Alice’s relationship.
Why have you chosen to do this show?
“This year is about “girl-power” at the Paramount Theatre. This play is about two women who take matters into their own hands.”GEORGE:This year is about “girl-power” at the Paramount Theatre. This play is about two women who take matters into their own hands.
JESSICA: I chose to do this show because…just because.
CATHERINE: George presented the opportunity and Alice really spoke to me.
What was the biggest challenge with this production?
“The play was written in 1982 and it’s frustrating to me how many of the themes of gender inequality are still relevant today.”GEORGE: Not laughing during rehearsals. The cast is hilarious.
JESSICA: I didn’t know how I was gonna cry on stage. But it worked out!
CATHERINE: I would say tackling the subject matter in a skillful way. It’s such a delicate subject for so many people. The play was written in 1982 and it’s frustrating to me how many of the themes of gender inequality are still relevant today. Sexual assault is something that myself and so many of my friends have struggled with as women, and it’s intriguing to me that this is a play, written by a woman, satirizing the typical gender roles of aggressor and victim.
Julie (Jessica Rosalie Bisel) asks the Pizza Man (Todd Clark), “Do you believe in God?”
What scenes or moments stand out to you that make the play worth showing to people?
GEORGE: The banter between the three actors.
JESSICA: Probably the sexy moments. They are a little unconventional.
What is your favorite kind of pizza?
GEORGE: Pepperoni, thin crust, folded.
JESSICA: I love pizza so much.
CATHERINE: Veggie. All of the veggies. All of them.
Why should one see Pizza Man?
GEORGE: It’s an adult comedy escape.
JESSICA: Pizza Man is a nice escape.
CATHERINE: It will, hopefully, transport the watcher into Julie and Alice’s world for an hour. I think that that’s an important opportunity in today’s climate.
Anything else you want people to know?
GEORGE: It’s an adult comedy escape.
JESSICA: No pizza men were harmed in the making of this play ****
PIZZA MAN by Darlene Craviotto is produced and directed by George Adams, starring Jessica Rosalie Bisel, Catherine Pitt, and Todd Clark. Performing at the Paramount Theatre April 13, 14, 15 & 20, 21, 22 at 8pm. Please call 405.637.9389 for ticket info.
