Review Fix chats with playwright Susan Jackson about her newest production “In Situ,†currently running at this year’s Midtown International Theatre Festival in New York City. Jackson also discusses her creative process, her career in theater and what she hopes people get out of the production, as well as what makes her a unique playwright.
Review Fix: What was the inspiration for this production?
Susan Jackson: I knew someone who had cancer and was extraordinarily mean to his partner–humiliated him, but expected him to do all the shit work.  To everyone else, the guy with cancer appeared stoic and kind.  I t occurred to me that perhaps not all people with terminal illness are likable and deserve compassion.
Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?
Jackson: I am usually inspired by what’s happening around me–hearing a story on NPR, or an exchange, or an experience. Realistic pieces appeal to me more than comedy. I sit and let my characters speak to me, then I put it all together.
Review Fix: What makes you different from other playwrights?
Jackson: I love that question. I’d have to say that I try not to impose my sense of humor or viewpoint on plays; and in some strange ways, I am politically incorrect, which is a “no no” in this part of the country. Give me a cigarette, that kind of thing.
Review Fix: If this what you always wanted to do?
Jackson: No, not really. I started off as a director, then an actress, and suddenly I was in the midst of a sabbatical that required me to write curriculum for a playwrighting class, which I ended up, reluctantly, teaching. It wasn’t till I won an award that it suddenly occurred to me that there were stories and people inside waiting to be heard.
Review Fix: What makes this production special?
Jackson: We’ve performed in NYC before, but not three performances. I think we tackle a subject in a new way.
Review Fix: How is your cast unique?
Jackson: Diana Brown and I are Southern. I’m the daughter of a preacher, and she’s baptized in a river. We love the Sonic.  We don’t eat there, but we love it.
Review Fix: What did you learn about yourself through this process?
Jackson: That I need to re-think the age thing. that sometimes we as playwrights need to think about the age of the characters and if the actors/actresses we hire (me being one of them) are age appropriate. when we did this piece a few years ago, it seemed fine. I changed some of it to make it more realistic since I am older. I also learned about making the logic more….logical! how do you trace point A to point Z? In my head, it makes sense, but it sometimes needs to be spelled out to the audience. And we dug more into finding the compassion that these two friends have for each other.
Review Fix: How does it feel to be a part of this festival?
Jackson: Fantastic–we’ve discovered new things by doing this play again. can’t wait to meet all the groups!  As I said before, we’ve done plays in NYC before, but this is the first time we’ve done more than one performance. We are excited to see how that unfolds.  We’re a little nervous about making sure we have what we need (and who wants to wear a bathing suit in SNOW and cold?) but we’re looking forward to the challenge.
Review Fix: What are your goals for the production?
Jackson: Exposure, joy, greeting people, hearing how the audience responds.  Seeing what other people are working on; having people come to see us and seeing if they like the piece. Not that the subject of the possibility of facing death is” likeable”….but we want to see how it resonates. It’s a bit of a dangerous territory–so we’re anxious to see how people respond.
Review Fix: Who do you think will enjoy it the most?
Jackson: Anyone who’s ever had someone they love have cancer–and anyone who has a best friend (BFF) that drives them crazy. It’s about loyalty. We’re hoping that the audience sees another side of an experience–and we wonder “who’s side” the audience will end up supporting… and how you can find humor in any situation. And how we all have our little jokes amongst family and friends that we repeat a lot.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Jackson: Working on the company venues and next adventure–NY FRINGE? We are looking to be more commercially viable–setting up scripted and impromptu (improvised) pieces that can be used/presented with companies–for example, the Haberdashers foundation of America meets at the Hyatt in San Francisco, and we provide 45 minutes of entertainment that has some relevance to their company. Our characters would be ones we are familiar with, and we’d have a generic script which we would then add specifics that coincide with their event.
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