Houston audiences know Philip Lehl from his riveting performances in Doug Wright's one-man show, I am my own Wife at Stages Repertory Theatre and Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman at the Alley Theatre. He has appeared in numerous productions at Stages, the Alley, Houston Shakespeare Festival and TUTS as well as on Broadway and Off-Broadway. Next month, he will appear in Stephen Belber's gripping play, Fault Lines with Horse Head Theatre Co.
This weekend, though, he makes his Houston directorial debut with his new theater company, Brave Dog Players, in their inaugural show Almost, Maine by John Cariani in cooperation with Stages. Almost, Maine has been called everything from "love in the time of frostbite," to a "wooly Midwinter Night's Dream." Lehl and his Brave Dog team of actors, Georgi Silverman, Kim Tobin and Rick Silverman, are dedicated to producing plays new to Houston.
Q: Just how brave are the Brave Dog Players?
A: To be perfectly honest, my wife Kim (Tobin), and our friends Rick and Georgi were just sitting around one day and thought, we should produce a play. George, Kim and Rick were all part of The Barrow Group Theatre Company where they workshopped the scenes that would become Cariani's play. So once we picked the play and spoke to Kenn (McLaughlin) at Stages, who was enthusiastic, we realized we needed a name and a Web site. So we became the Brave Dog Players out of necessity.
Q. So is this a one-shot brave deal?
It depends. I can't answer that until I see how many tickets we sell. We are probably going to spend more money than we make, but it's something we wanted to do and are willing to sacrifice to do it. People need to know that theater loses money and needs support from the community.
Q. Thanks for clarifying the brave part. Texas is a bit like Maine (except without lobsters) in that both consider themselves their own countries and are populated with eccentric people. Set us up for the play.
A: I would say there is a certain small-town mentality about the play, which consists of nine vignettes, almost like little plays within themselves. The characters don't appear in any other vignette, but they all know each other. It's the same small circle, in that way it's universal.
Q: If you had to boil it down, what's this play about?
A: Love, love, love, just like the Beatles song, and yes there's a Valentine's Day show. I call it a magical romantic comedy, and I am using the word "magic" literally. Something magical really happens in each scene, like a little miracle. It's a deceptive little play, sweet short stories about these quirky little people who live in Maine. It does sound sweet, but my job as a director is to make sure it's not too sweet.
Q: How does Almost, Maine fit your directing style?
A: I have a personal aesthetic of telling a story with as little as possible, not in a cheap way, but spare. Almost, Maine cries out to be told that way.
