Review Fix Exclusive: Lucy Blood Talks ‘Biblically Speaking’

Review Fix chats with playwright Lucy Blood who discusses her production at the Midtown International Theatre Festival, “Biblically Speaking.” Breaking down the inspiration for the performance, as well as his goals for the future, Blood lets us know exactly why we should check out the production.

For more information on the production and the MITF, click here.

Review Fix: What was the inspiration for this production?

Lucy Blood: It all started with the Bible. How can you miss with the biggest bestseller of all time? The Guinness Book of World Records has it listed as historical fact.  I often wondered what the women in the Bible would say. It’s always the men who are quoted so I said to myself, “Give them a voice!”  This play took decades to come together and I am grateful for the journey that brought me here.

Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?

Blood: I’m not a playwright who sits down at the same time each day to write. When I feel the inspiration hit, that’s when I begin to write. It’s as if my mind becomes constipated with thoughts  and it feels very uncomfortable. Writing is the Miralax for my mind and what come out is a mess, then I go about organizing all of the words from that first shot of inspiration.

Review Fix: What makes you different from other playwrights?

Blood: I am an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. I have the luxury of having a full-time job so I don’t feel the pressure other playwrights might feel to “publish or perish”. This gives me the freedom to write what I’m passionate about and in the timeframe that feels right for me.  The world is full of irony and I’m able to bring that to the stage. Also, life often feels like a sitcom and some of that comes through my writing, too

Review Fix: What makes this production special?

Blood: This is a solo performance piece that is not entirely a play or a musical. It’s a playsical with a few songs, some bad slight of hand, and it brings the Bible to life in a new provocative way. My stage manager, Deborah Lane, and I are trying to create an intimate experience where the audience is an integral part of the performance.  It seems like a simple production, but audiences walk away from it thinking about what they’ve seen for days.

Review Fix: How is your cast unique?

Blood: This is a one-woman show where I am the playwright, composer, lyricist, and performer.  Also, I’ve worked with my director, Kate Gilbert, to create differentiated characters with their own unique personas as well as their take on life.  This will be my NYC stage debut and I’m very excited about this opportunity to shine my light.

Review Fix: What did you learn about yourself through this process?

Blood: Preaching is not a far stretch from acting. I discovered I am a thespian lesbian. Also, I learned that the struggle for equality for women is not isolated in today’s world. The women in the Bible: Eve, Mrs. Noah, Sarah, Elizabeth, and Mary had no voice. The men who wrote the Bible probably did not even think that they might have something important to say.  I found that I could give them a voice full of all the humor and emotions that transcends the millennia.

Review Fix: How does it feel to be a part of this festival?

Blood: I feel very honored to bring Biblically Speaking to NYC in July. It’s a thrill to be chosen by the MITF to share this at The Davenport Theatre and I look forward to seeing other productions at the festival. Every show I see strengthens my learning curve as a playwright and I’m sure this experience will be exponential!

Review Fix: What are your goals for the production?

Blood: The goal for Biblically Speaking is to have its premiere in New York City in July, then tour the country, finally ending in world domination of the denominations. Does that sound like too lofty a goal for a play?

Review Fix: Who do you think will enjoy it the most?

Blood: This is a very family-friendly peace and is appropriate for all generations. It can touch those who consider some themselves religious as well as those that don’t follow any religious practice at all.   If you want to walk away from the theater with a smile on your face or a tune in your head or thinking “I never thought about that in the Bible”, then Biblically Speaking is the show for you.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Blood: Feeding the dogs, my family, then me…not necessarily in that order. Thanks for asking. After that I’ll work on a dramatic play focusing on actors and alcoholism. Do you think that’s typecasting?