(OUTscene NW) Theater RE-view: NCTC's The Flick is an EPIC statement on the Death of the Movie House!

a LOVE Triangle AT THE MOVIES      Photo by John Ulman

by MK Scott

Movies, movies we all love movies. Classic and Pop Culture Movies even more. I used to spend moments alone just going to old rundown movie houses in Portland, far from my hometown of Beaverton and how its only Historic movie house went out of Business in the early 80's and I had to venture out to multi -plexes (Beaverton had 2)  or head to the Valley multi-plex or all the way to the Historic Hollywood in NE Portland or up to 1987, we had the rundown Broadway Theaters, (Fox, Music Box, Broadway) for cheap double features. The only Theater that still exist today is the Hollywood.

I also enjoyed the Drive IN, Beaverton had 3 screens, and in the summer of 1987 I worked at the concessions stand and even socialized with my co-workers.

So I went to see NCTC's latest this past weekend, that debuted in its new home at the 12th Arts Building.

 
The Flick is a play by Annie Baker that received the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and won the 2013 Obie Award for Playwriting. The Flick premiered Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in 2013.

In a run-down movie theater in central Massachusetts, three underpaid employees mop the floors and attend to one of the last 35 millimeter film projectors in that state. A hilarious and heart-rending cry for authenticity in a fast-changing world.


So what does happen in The Flick? A lot of sweeping and mopping of the floor of a grotty old movie house near Worcester, Massachusetts. Also the tenderest drama — funny, heartbreaking, sly, and unblinking — now playing at a theater near you.

Sam (Sam Hagan) the 35-year-old guy who works for the cinema simply shows a  Shy and suicidal, Avery (Tyler Trerise) the 20-year-old newbie how to clean the auditorium between shows.

Act ONE was way too long, but in the movies, How Long is too Long?

I don't think Rose is a Lesbian!  Photo by John Ulman

The action really picks up later, when Sam, has the night off, and Avery wants to see a film and so does Rose (Emily Chisholm), the 24 yr old green haired projectionist, who Sam thinks is a lesbian, but is really is a sex addict. I think Avery's first choice to spend time with would be Sam, as I think Avery is attracted too. Also Rose tries every move she can to come on to Avery and Avery is clearly not interested. 


Later, when Sam returns and learns that Rose is training Avery to be a Projectionist, he is furious and professes his feelings for Rose, who doesn't respond. The Theater has been sold and the Projection has changed to digital and that totally displaces everyone and introduces us to Skylar (The super Cute and too brief, Spencer Hamp) and Avery even takes the rap for the Unauthorized Tip jar. Avery moves on, but comes back to get what he truly wants.

After all of Seattle's Old Movie Houses are closing or finding new ownership the theme is very much current and a point is made in the play. The classic movie experience is dying, when with all the other choices, it should be Thriving.

NCTC's The Flick continues  through  April 4th at 12th Arts Center. Click HERE for Tix.