Review Fix chats with playwright Glynn Borders who discusses his production at the Midtown International Theatre Festival, “The Enforcer.†Breaking down the inspiration for the performance, as well as his goals for the future, Borders lets us know exactly why we should check out the one-man production.
For more information on the production and the MITF, click here.
Review Fix: What was the inspiration for this production?
Glynn Borders: My inspiration for THE ENFORCER was the need to express a childhood humiliation. So all of the Fifth grade stuff is real. What happens afterwards, many years later, is totally made up. That happened because I could not find a satisfying ending. It was a dream, one night that showed me how to tell this story. Which made it necessary for this not to be my story anymore. I now tell it through a character in the south.
Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?
Borders: My creative process is a bit intense. I think. It starts with writing, rewriting and tweaking like crazy. I must get my script to feel good in my body when I read it out loud. My work must flow. I strive for flow in language and imagery. I love rhythm. The overall story must flow with the rhythm, as well as with each character. I like plotting twists and surprises. While I rehearse I continue to rewrite and tweak. Actually printing out those pages and exchanging them in my three ring binders, over and over and over.
Review Fix: What makes you different from other playwrights?
Borders: I don’t really know how other writer’s work so I don’t know what makes me different. I do try to be visual. But I assume everyone does that. I think I have a personal style and an interesting voice but, again, I guess that can be said about other artists as well. I think I succeed in taking audiences on an adventure. I can work clean and I can work vulgar.
Review Fix: What makes this production special?
Borders: I think my solo show, The Enforcer, is a unique way to talk about bullying, revenge, forgiveness and redemption. All with a Chopin groove. “Thangs ain’t always as they seem.â€
Review Fix: How is your cast unique?
Borders: My cast is just me. It gets no more unique than that.
Review Fix: What did you learn about yourself through this process?
Borders: I found out that I often live in my imagination. I think my process creates an interesting mood that helps drive my story. Mood is important. It’s sometime visceral. If I can make the audience feel what I feel when I begin to speak I have them locked in for the adventure. I can take them wherever I want to go. I only find the mood with constant reworking.
Review Fix: How does it feel to be a part of this festival?
Borders: I love the Midtown International Theater Festival. This is my second consecutive participation. My solo show, SLEEP WELL, won Most Outstanding Script in 2014. An amazing honor. I am very happy to be back.
Review Fix: What are your goals for the production?
Borders: Eventually I want to team SLEEP WELL and THE ENFORCER together as one evening of theatre. 45 minutes, intermission, 40 minutes. Hopefully I can get into some international festivals and take them on the road.
Review Fix: Who do you think will enjoy it the most?
Borders: I think people who like psychological thrillers will love The Enforcer.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Borders: I am quite fortunate. My day job for the last 21 years has been with The Late Show with David Letterman. 15 of those years were with the special effects department. In the last eight years I have been the Special Effects Director. On September 8, I will continue on with Stephen Colbert. I will perform during our vacations and hiatuses.
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