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Turtleneck

by Brandon Crone

Directed by Brandon Nicoletti

Stage Managed by Erin Maxfield

Produced by Brandon Nicoletti and Laura Katherine Hayes (Kingston Run)

Starring

Sean Jacklin as Brian

Annie Tuma as Darcy

Karen Scobie as Vicki 

Bryce Fletch as Louis

Steven Vlahos as Roy

Fight Direction by Jack Rennie

Set Design by Natalia Tcherniak

Promotional Photography by Samantha Polzin

Videography and Graphic Design by William Innes

Show Photography by Colleen Yates

Turtleneck focuses on Vicki, a woman trying to escape from a dark past that has come back to haunt her. In an attempt to distance herself from a destructive addiction, Vicki is befriended by a rehabilitation worker named Darcy.  But by befriending Darcy, Vicki is accidentally introduced to Darcy’s sex-obsessed older brother, Brian, who develops an all consuming lust for Vicki.  Thrown into the mix is Louis, a quirky and shy young man with a crush on Vicki, and Roy, a mysterious figure from Vicki’s dark past.  Darcy, Brian, Louis, and Roy clash in an attempt to try and stake their claim over Vicki, resulting in a turbulent evening with devastating results.

emerGENce Theatre first performed Turtleneck at the 2017 Storefront Fringe Festival in Kingston, ON from June 23 - July 1st.  Later that year, the show was remounted in Toronto at The Tree of Life Theatre, from Sept 23 - Oct 8, 2017

AWARDS

Nominated for 'Outstanding Supporting Actor' (Steven Vlahos) - 2017 My Entertainment World Awards.  Read the interview here!

REVIEWS

"Let me sum up emerGENce Theatre‘s Turtleneck playing at the Tree of Life Theatre in five words: it is so absurdly good.  Brilliantly cast, darkly hilarious, unexpected–there is just no way this show should be missed."

"I have to say, kudos to Fletch… Even when he wasn’t speaking, several of us in the audience kept leaning over to watch his reactions as the story unfurled."

"And as for Tuma as Darcy, she nails her part..."

"Likely born to play the role, Vlahos is terrifying and hilarious by turns." 

"Rather than hide these topics, between direction and acting, I left the theatre feeling encouraged to talk about these issues.  Theatre doesn’t get much better than that."

     -Madeleine Copp, Mooney On Theatre (See Review)

"Tree of Life Theatre is tiny and the close proximity to the action ups the ante nicely. And it gives the cast no room for false notes. Director Brandon Nicoletti keeps everything moving quickly, with coherence..."

"No-one in the audience will ever again hear the phrase ‘It's my birthday’ without having to choke down appalled laughter."

"Annie Tuma shines as a feisty repressed crusader with a grudge..."

"Bryce Fletch endures the worst of the violence and the character's unease and milquetoast bravery is comical but also endearing. And he milks laughs out of a simple gag not once, not twice, but four times: each funnier."

"Sean Jacklin gets lots of laughs..."

"And there is Turtleneck in microcosm: these people are vile, hilarious, conflicted and they are us. It is a bleak worldview related with comic virtuosity. I doubt that even a turbo-charged air conditioner would have cooled the heat."

     -Drew Rowsome, My Gay Toronto (See Review)

"Beautifully cast.  Very engaging performances by Sean Jacklin, Annie Tuma, Karen Scobie, Bryce Fletch, and Steven Vlahos."

"Please don't miss this one.   Not for the faint of heart... Funny and quite edgy."

"Brandon Nicoletti did a mature job of producing and directing Brandon Crone's twisted drama, Turtleneck. He knows how to cast a play. I hope we see much more of Brandon Nicoletti's work in 2018."

     -Burke Campbell

MEDIA

(L to R) Sean Jacklin as Brian, Annie Tuma as Darcy

(L to R) Bryce Fletch as Louis, Karen Scobie as Vicki

(L to R) Bryce Fletch as Louis, Karen Scobie as Vicki

(L to R) Sean Jacklin as Brian, Karen Scobie as Vicki

(L to R) Bryce Fletch as Louis, Karen Scobie as Vicki

(L to R) Bryce Fletch as Louis, Karen Scobie as Vicki

(L to R) Bryce Fletch as Louis, Karen Scobie as Vicki

(L to R) Steven Vlahos as Roy, Karen Scobie as Vicki, Bryce Fletch as Louis

(L to R) Sean Jacklin as Brian, Karen Scobie as Vicki, Annie Tuma as Darcy, Steven Vlahos as Roy

(L to R) Sean Jacklin as Brian, Steven Vlahos as Roy, Bryce Fletch as Louis, Annie Tuma as Darcy

Sean Jacklin as Brian

(L to R) Bryce Fletch as Louis, Annie Tuma as Darcy

(L to R) Bryce Fletch as Louis, Sean Jacklin as Brian, Steven Vlahos as Roy

Bryce Fletch as Louis

(L to R) Karen Scobie as Vicki, Steven Vlahos as Roy

(L to R) Karen Scobie as Vicki, Bryce Fletch as Louis, Steven Vlahos as Roy

Annie Tuma as Darcy

Steven Vlahos as Roy

(L to R) Karen Scobie as Vicki, Annie Tuma as Darcy, Sean Jacklin as Brian

(L to R) Annie Tuma as Darcy, Sean Jacklin as Brian

(L to R) Annie Tuma as Darcy, Sean Jacklin as Brian

Sean Jacklin as Brian

Sean Jacklin as Brian

SHOW PHOTOS

PROMOTIONAL PHOTOS

(L to R) Bryce Fletch as Louis, Karen Scobie as Vicki

(L to R) Bryce Fletch as Louis, Steven Vlahos as Roy

(L to R) Sean Jacklin as Brian, Annie Tuma as Darcy, Karen Scobie as Vicki, Steven Vlahos as Roy, Bryce Fletch as Louis

(L to R) Sean Jacklin as Brian, Annie Tuma as Darcy, Karen Scobie as Vicki, Steven Vlahos as Roy, Bryce Fletch as Louis

(L to R) Sean Jacklin as Brian, Steven Vlahos as Roy, Bryce Fletch as Louis

(L to R) Sean Jacklin as Brian, Steven Vlahos as Roy, Bryce Fletch as Louis

(L to R) Annie Tuma as Darcy, Karen Scobie as Vicki

(L to R) Karen Scobie as Vicki, Steven Vlahos as Roy

(L to R) Steven Vlahos as Roy, Annie Tuma as Darcy

(L to R) Annie Tuma as Darcy, Sean Jacklin as Brian

(L to R) Sean Jacklin as Brian, Karen Scobie as Vicki

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