This past Friday, this blogger attended the Flipside pre-show fundraiser which was fun and very well-attended. I was warned that I may need to schmooze, which left me a bit nervous and chagrined because schmoozing has never been a mode of behavior I’ve been able to nourish, but considering the enthusiastic and eager crowd that turned out to sip on the signature HartBeat cocktail (Hibiscus tea, vodka, and some other ingredient, topped off by a sugar-encrusted glass rim… created and served by Hannah Gant, thank you very much) & other fine beverages while they noshed on delicious food- schmoozing turned out to be an effortless feat. Downtown favorite, Salute restaurant graciously donated the  main meal: Pasta, bruschetta, fried sweet potato ravioli, & garlic cheese bread… further  illustrating their commitment to contributing to Hartford’s growth, their support of local arts & culture, and  just why they were voted  Best New Restaurant in Hartford Advocate’s Reader’s Poll … It was a great fete indeed and the donated food and appetizers were the icing on the cake. I made sure to have at least 3 HartBeat cocktails myself, to make sure they were consistently up to par. Any little thing to help. 

Hartford-based DJ, Asaad Jackson of Cold Hearts Entertainment, provided a chill, Neo-Soul-type contemporary soundtrack in the background as HartBeat Ensemble supporters mingled amongst one another,  complimenting the food and expressing their excitement about seeing Flipside.

The second time around, the play proved to be an even better show, not to mention there was an even fuller house! … “It’s a different experience seeing it a second time, because there’re slight differences from the opening. It’s like watching a whole new play!” gushed well-dressed Hartford socialite Mr. David Ceder. Once again, Taneisha Duggan wowed the audience when she sang “Bad Mother,” Cindy Martinez was stupefying as she modulated from character to character with ease. Brian Jennings’s turn as Nick the besieged narcotics agent was even more intense and Chinaza Uche as Bo was even more riveting.  Flipside lead playwright and actor Julia Rosenblatt’s character as a grandmotherly (and unlikely) drug mule elicited even more laughter from this particular audience and her scenes playing Nick’s exasperated wife caused a hush throughout the performance space during a particularly gripping and climactic back and forth between the two during an argument in which Nick tells his wife he’s accepting a promotion that will require him to work more hours.

Also, when an inebriated Nick warns Bo: “You can get over an addiction… you can never get over a conviction!” during a particularly revealing moment in the play, audience members “Mmm’ed” in agreement as a congregation does during a preacher’s rousing sermon.

The best part of the evening was at the end… standing in line waiting for a turn in the bathroom and listening to people discuss their favorite parts of the play and how much they enjoyed the show: “They did such a wonderful job! It was soo good. I could hear running water from the building’s pipes but it actually worked for this play. It seemed like it belonged as part of the sound-effects…” observed one theater goer.  “That actress has a great voice!” chimed in another. Speaking of Taneisha’s voice, I can’t stress how good the music and spoken-word elements are. Sound designer, Martin Carrillo can’t get enough accolades for his work! I asked director, Gregory “Tate” Tate if an LP was in the works, and he enthusiastically assured me that there would be. “Bad Mother” sing-along, here I come!

As if you need another reason as to why you should take advantage of the opportunity to see this play… Just do it! Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at The Hollander Building at Asylum Street downtown, 7:30 PM… do NOT miss it. The stage is set and the actors are primed… you just have to purchase your ticket and show up.

Photo courtesy of Mr. David Ceder