Caution advised for theater companies tempted to send an April Fool’s press release. If at all subtle, it could wind up in the press with your name on it.
No such caution is needed in Seattle, because there are no theater critics to receive it. Almost none. There’s the great Brendan Kiley at the Stranger, but press releases are beneath his dignity. And there’s workhorse Misha Berson of the Seattle Times, but she’s so committed to print and averse to online that April 1 will be over before she can respond, so she won’t.
That leaves, I suppose by default, an art critic. From Stephanie Coen of Intiman Theatre:
SEATTLE– On Wednesday, April 1, the Hammering Man, one of Seattle’s most beloved icons, shocked onlookers when he committed a double murder, with an axe. Inspector Porfiry of the St. Petersburg police, currently on a sight-seeing tour of Seattle, managed to take the attached photo moments after the event, which is being investigated as “a murder with a psychological explanation.”
The story behind the Hammering Man’s crime and punishment will be revealed at Intiman Theatre, where a 90-minute version of Dostoyevsky’s psycho-thriller — ironically titled Crime and Punishment — opens on Friday, April 3 and plays through May 3.
The Hammering Man — who is also known in certain circles as #3277164 — has never before exhibited any signs of violence, nor has he expressed the idea that he is an “extraordinary man” who has the right to kill.
Inspector Porfiry is consulting on the investigation, and will help the Seattle police determine whether the Hammering Man should be sent to Siberia.
To make sure I – the single, solitary member of the press who might think Hammering Man is involved in the production – understand it’s a joke, Coen went on:
In other news, Intiman is responding to the current economic crisis in innovative ways. Its 2006 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre is now for sale on eBay.
And:
Despite the economy, however, Intiman will not make across-the-board cuts: Joan Didion’s solo show The Year of Magical Thinking will be performed by both Penn and Teller.
Well done, Ms. Coen. Her email here. Intiman’s killer You Tube advance below:
Of course, Hammering Man might be involved. That’s the thing about jokes. Within one, a kidding-on-the-square sometimes lies coiled.
Leave a Reply