MANAYUNK

The initial run of Splatter is drawing to a close, but there is still time to catch a performance this weekend.  Splatter is a one act psychological thriller by British Playwright Dale J. Pearson and is the inaugural production of the fledgling Manayunk Theatre Company.  

The company was founded by Philadelphia natives Sean Connolly and Gabriel Henninger.  Connolly is the Company's Artistic Director and did double duty as the Director and Producer of Splatter while Henninger serves as the Stage Manager.  

The performance itself is an intimate affair set in the appropriately foreboding basement of St. David's Church.  Due to the confined nature of the performance space there is limited seating for about 20 souls.  

"We've been at maximum capacity or close to it most nights," said Connolly,  "it's so much better than I expected."

Splatter's one act goes by quickly and there shouldn't be any great surprises for anyone familiar with the tropes of B grade horror flicks. That doesn't detract from the play's campy charm.  Connolly originally saw the play in a hotel room at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.  The roles are ably filled and acted by Dexter Anderson, Brooklyn Rose, and Ken Sandberg.  The trio has an impressive list of credits in the city's vibrant theatre scene.

Preparation for the play began in July following a successful crowd funding campaign on kickstarter.com.  Some of the more generous contributors to the campaign were immortalized in the playbill in the form of humorous obituaries.  These vignettes serve as a mood setting preamble for attendees waiting to be ushered down into St. David's basement.  The basement itself serves as the fourth cast member.  Rows of stone columns add to the claustrophobia.  The set is minimalist.  A table.  A chair.  A plastic tarp.  

"We needed $2000.  That was the bare minimum we needed to put on the show," said Connolly.  "Ultimately we brought in $2300.  With kickstarter you either reach your goal and collect the funds or you don't reach the goal and everything is returned.  We're very grateful to our contributors."   
Even though the formation of the Manayunk Theatre Company wasn't a foregone conclusion, the Company is here to stay.   

"Going forward we would like to focus on work by emerging writers and local playwrights," said Connolly, "We don't have a very big budget.  Dale was very generous letting us perform his work for practically nothing.  Without that generosity, this wouldn't have happened."  Connolly hopes to have an encore run of Splatter for Halloween.  Longer term ambitions include offering, "A Pint and a Play" performances in some of the establishments on Main Street.

Connolly added, "We'd like to branch out some more and maybe do some Shakespeare for those performances.  We want to keep Manayunk front and center because it's the heart and soul of our company."

Splatter wraps up on Sunday, September 14th,  with a matinee performance.  Tickets can be purchased at the door or acquired in advance at http://fringearts.com/event/splatter-09-14-14/.  Seating is very limited. This is an adult show and is highly not recommended for children.