Review Fix chats with playwright Arthur W. French III about his newest production “Miniskirt Theory,†currently running at this year’s Midtown International Theatre Festival in New York City. French also discusses his creative process and what he hopes people get out of the production.
Review Fix: What was the inspiration for this production?
Arthur W. French III: At my old company I worked for, there was a dress code that was very loose as far as clothes we’re concerned. The secretaries wore dresses above the knee. However, every time the CEO came in for a meeting, the dresses would go higher. So, I always thought that there was a memo going around the company that the ladies could wear dresses above the knee, and that’s where “Miniskirt Theory” came from
Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?
French: If there’s an idea i get, whether it’s from my life, or the headlines, or even a song, or an incident, I’ll jot the idea down, and then start writing the script out. Sometime the idea takes a day. Sometimes the idea can take a few weeks. The easiest part of the process is the idea. The most difficult is how you structure the idea, and organizing it in the process.
Review Fix: What makes you different from other playwrights?
French: I don’t write the news item of the day, or the popular topic. I write what I like, or what moves me. I’m a person that doesn’t write bandwagon stuff. I like to write outside of what’s popular, and what will work
Review Fix: If this what you always wanted to do?
French: I’ve always wanted to be in the business. i was as an actor. I find writing plays is something that’s a calling, and I’m very blessed and lucky that I found that this is more fulfilling than anything i’ve ever done in my career.
Review Fix: What makes this production special?
French: That, it’s part of a the MITF. That it’s being done on a grand stage, and that I enjoy seeing this, along with other plays in the festival
Review Fix: How is your cast unique?
French: I worked with everybody in previous shows. It’s great when you can work with Actors that you are familiar with your style, and that any new person that comes in, leaps in with no problem. In this case. Everybody knows each other from other shows, but no one has ever worked together, and that’s the fun of doing this show! The unfamiliarity of it. It’s a great feeling!
Review Fix: What did you learn about yourself through this process?
French: That I can revisit something that was a very strange situation in my life, and make light of it. Sometimes it’s hard to write a subject that may be not great, but to look at it through rehearsals, and to get a different perspective on it, and to through rehearsals see my experience as a funny issue, was a surprise to me.
Review Fix: How does it feel to be a part of this festival?
French: It’s an honor. I’ve come to many of the MITF shows the past few years supporting my friends, and now to be in the festival, is a very different animal. I’m always grateful when my play is picked, that people thought a lot of it to be part of the festival, so I’m very honored and blessed to be a part of this.
Review Fix: What are your goals for the production?
French: For the audience to see that sometimes at work, there are odd things that go on at a job, and that folks will see this, and get a kick out of that experience.
Review Fix: Who do you think will enjoy it the most?
French: The audience, because they’ll know and relate to each person in the show. Former co-workers, maybe so. It might park some memories of the company.
Review Fix: What’s next?
French: I’m always creating new works. I have a show coming up called “Colored girls Who Rock and roll all nite” a comic satire, and a new piece I’m workshopping called “The Accidental Activist.†And of course, I’m always writing new one acts, and just continue this journey of being a playwright.
Leave a Reply