World Premiere of You, Nero Ignites Spirits of First Nighters By Ann Conway
In a whirlwind of laughter, mouth-watering food and thirsty sips of a fizzing Poppaea's Potion (a heady combo of bubbly and cranberry juice topped with a lemon twist), First Nighters celebrated the SCR-commissioned world premiere of Amy Freed's You, Nero at a high-voltage post-performance bash at Pinot Provence, which co-sponsored the evening's festivities with SCR.
When they weren't rubbing elbows with Freed, Director Sharon Ott, or cast members who included Danny Scheie (playing the vainglorious Nero) and John Vickery (Scribonious), they were diving into a buffet of meaty shortribs and pork belly — "How appropriate!" deadpanned new First Nighter John Benecke, referring to Nero's famed avoirdupois — and a stunning array of delicate mini-desserts.
Also on the Jan. 9 party play list: the chance to wonder if a magnificent white marble statue of a Roman goddess holding court in the center of the restaurant was real or faux. "She's not real," clucked Benecke, an interior designer with an eye for authenticity. "I saw her breathe!"
Also holding court was beloved SCR trustee Elaine J. Weinberg, underwriter of the two-hour plus romp, set circa 63 A.D., on the Julianne Argyros Stage that hysterically presented the back-story on why Rome burned (Let's just say that fans of 'rock-star' Nero were also fans of flickering candlelight). "I'm a great admirer of Amy Freed," said Weinberg, who, with her late husband, Martin Weinberg, has underwritten many productions for both the Segerstrom and Argyros Stages. "She has such a brain for comedy! When I heard this read at the Pacific Playwrights Festival, I liked it right away. The cast is so talented!"
Accompanying Weinberg — besides her five children, three of their spouses, and five of her ten grandchildren — was Ron Carlson, director of the graduate program for creative writing at UC Irvine. "This is my first time at SCR and to come here and feel all this energy and life — WOW! It's terrific!" Carlson said.
Observed SCR Managing Director Paula Tomei: "Amy Freed is always so clever — the wittiness she brings to the contemporary versus the historical is always brilliant and crazy!"
