Download RATTLESNAKE Press release Written and acted by John Hardy

RATTLESNAKE Press release
Written and acted by John Hardy; Directed by Katy Brown. {Bios included below.}
“John Hardy’s…Rattlesnake…a groundbreaking creation…”
“Brilliant writing in the most original script I know…the first classic of the new century.”
“You have never seen anything like it… sixteen characters, a small cavalcade, come to
life before our eyes, distinctly and convincingly.”
“The entire piece is one immense poem with passages of lyric beauty given in plain
everyday speech. It’s a marvelous use of language, a lot of wit, much rich
characterization - and all with very deep feeling. The whole thing is immense”
“The performance is remarkable in its creative use of simplicity. John needs no props to
convince you of the reality of his world. His world is in his imagination. And what an
imagination it is.”
Sean O’Sullivan, Theatre Columnist, A! Magazine For the Arts
“Rattlesnake' is sinuous, mean theatre; don’t miss it!
Rob Weisfeld, Theatre Critic, The Abingdon Virginian
RATTLESNAKE is a unique theatrical event. Unlike anything you have ever seen and,
at the same time, easily understood, appreciated and thoroughly enjoyed by first-time
theatre goers.
One actor plays sixteen characters, but unlike most one-actor plays, these characters
interact with each other. Believe it or not, they exchange banter; they battle back and
forth; they engage in conversations. The typical one-actor play is either a series of
monologues or a story being told by one character. RATTLESNAKE goes far beyond
those traditional boundaries of theatrical protocol. These characters engage each
other; they compel each other. The result is a story of epic reach. Each and every
character yearns for something. They reach out, grasping for something they know
exists, but they don’t know what it is or how to get it.
Sherman Trent, the main character at the center of the story, journeys forward as this
world of characters swirls around him.
A man of West Texas longs for fatherhood which is his only ambition. His attempts to
realize this ambition are stif led in his romantic life, and his application for the adoption of
a child is rejected by the local adoption agency. He retreats to a small patch of prairie
left to him by his long gone mother and father. Here, he meets the rattlesnake, and
immerses himself in its world finding a comfort and belonging that eludes him in the
outside world. He immerses himself in the world of the rattlesnake and uses their skins
for crafting hatbands, belt buckles and other items for sale. Recalling the lessons of a
boyhood acquaintance, an old black woman, he learns to cook the meat of the
rattlesnake and becomes a noted chef. His newfound celebrity takes him as far as
Paris where he meets a Parisian woman who opens her heart to him. He gives over to
her but cannot release himself from his bond with the rattlesnake. The story ends soon
after, but not before one more surprise.
The play encompasses thirty years in flashback and takes place in various locations in
West Texas and later, Paris, France.
Among the sixteen characters of the piece:
The main character, Sherman Trent
Bubba, his father
Millie, his mother
Madge Hayden, Adoption Agency Supervisor
Noni, an old black woman; the live-in companion of
Sherman’s great aunt
Monty Monty, West Texas restaurant owner and
erstwhile organizer of rattlesnake roundups
Sarah, Animal rights protester at the rattlesnake
roundup
Benjamin Nagle, Biology teacher at the local
community college; denied tenure due to his
obsession with the rattlesnake
Laferne Labouvie, Owner of restaurants in New
Orleans and Paris
Sidonie, Female chef at the Paris restaurant;
Sherman’s love
JOHN HARDY Playwright and Actor
Over the course of a thirty year career John has directed over one hundred professional
productions including MACBETH, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, ROMEO AND
JULIET, HENRY V, JULIUS CAESAR, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST,
TARTUFFE, OEDIPUS THE KING, MAN OF LA MANCHA and others. As an actor
John has played many of the great roles including Hamlet, MacBeth, Tom Wingfield in
THE GLASS MENAGERIE, Oberon in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, Teach in
AMERICAN BUFFALO and many others. John has recently returned from a national
tour, playing George in OF MICE AND MEN. As a playwright he has had over forty
productions of fifteen plays produced across the country and overseas. John recently
received the Sara Spencer Award, for lifetime achievement, from the Southeastern
Theatre Conference. M.F.A.: The University of Alabama; Ph.D.: Texas Tech University.
KATY BROWN Director
Katy has directed over fifty professional productions including OF MICE AND MEN, THE
LAST FIVE YEARS, A THOUSAND CRANES, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS,
CHILDREN OF THE SUN, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, ANNE OF GREEN
GABLES, A WALK IN THE WOODS and world premieres such as THE QUILTMAKER,
DOUBTING THOMAS and FRANKLY MY DEAR. As a professional actor: Phebe in AS
YOU LIKE IT, Rose of Sharon in THE GRAPES OF WRATH, Olivia in TWELFTH
NIGHT, Suzanne in PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE, The Prince in ROMEO AND
JULIET and others. Katy is the Artistic Director of The Barter Players and Associate
Director of The Barter Theatre.