A different kind of soap opera: ‘Blades of our Knives’ takes risks, reaps rewards

As the six-piece band moved from a rendition of George Michael's “Never Going to Dance Again” to Ace of Base's classic “All That She Wants,” the audience wondered eagerly what direction the plot would take, as did the waiting cast, perched on chairs by the side of the stage. 

Blades of our Knives, the latest creation from director Jerome Saibil ’02 and musical director Eli Batalion ’02, is Brown University's first-ever improvised soap opera. The storyline, which began Tuesday, will progress throughout the show's Mar. 8-11 run at Production Workshop, with neither the spectators or the actors themselves knowing where the characters will arrive by the end of the evening. 

Saibil and Batalion said they stumbled upon the idea in Canada while touring with their last production Everything You Wanted to Know About Yourself But Were Afraid to Ask Freud. The improvised show they saw was much simpler: no set, sparing use of music and two-person scenes. Inspired, Saibil and Batalion improved upon the idea, expanding the complexity of scenes, integrating music more fully and building a set which was far more elaborate, they said. A risky venture? Indeed. However, Blades of our Knives, as well as being an extraordinarily daring venture is also a tremendously successful one. 

Saibil said that, “right after the show was (approved by PW) there was nervousness. But the actors allayed my fears.” 

The cast, who developed their characters during the initial rehearsals with only minor input from Saibil, shines. There are no weak links, and the cast possesses the uncommon gift of being a true ensemble, with no one actor hogging the spotlight. 

“We have such a tight cast,” Batalion said. “Everyone really is into it equally...there is a lot of fraternity and sorority.” Cast members echoed this feeling of teamwork and solidarity. 

Reif Larsen ’02, who plays the conniving, aged and insane Casper Quivers, said although he was nervous at the outset about working so closely with people he didn't know, “a lot of time was spent doing trust games...incrementally we moved through this and got closer.” 

Ollie Rasini ’04, prophet, tap dancer and third grade flunky in her role as Harmony Sterling, said that even though most of the cast had never improvised before, they were able to work effectively with each other, making the improvised interactions believable. 

Equally important was the cohesive performance by the band that improvised all the musical cues for the show. Excellent musicians individually, the band's success depended on the ability to operate cohesively while also adapting instantly to the emotional demands of each scene. Beyond their musical roles, each member of the band had their own distinct character. Singer Rebecca Pronsky ’02 delivered the Blades of our Knives theme with passion and irony, while wielding a large butcher knife in one hand. 

The production crew, like the musicians, had to improvise all of their cues. The fast lighting changes between scenes and the heavy number of split scenes occurred almost flawlessly, ensuring that the show moved at a fast pace. 

Lighting Director Adam Griska ’04 said that, due to the nature of Blades of our Knives, the tech process began much earlier and was heavily integrated with the actors’ rehearsals. During the performance, Saibil, Batalion and Griska were in constant communication via radios, meaning, Saibil said, “there was a lot of traffic backstage.” 

Blades of our Knives is a typical soap opera without the seriousness and self-importance of regular soap operas. The plot, chaotic and frenetically paced, is a delightful series of non-sequitors. In the first 10 minutes of tonight's performance, incriminating pictures of God’s messenger, Ark, played by Joel Silberman ’05, kissing Tom Gormican’s ’02 tough but intellectually challenged Harley David'sson were hung all over a nearby church. 

Detective Jack Pierce (Ross Chapman ’04) recovers from a near fatal bullet wound by making love to his German nurse Nadia, played perfectly by Karola Kreitmair ’05. Lana, “the bitch” (Sonja Drimmer ’03) was drugged with ether and nearly died from an injection administered by Nadia. 

Although nobody knows where this strange mix of characters will find themselves next, it would be a shame not to find out. 

— Victoria Harris

A diamond to the groundbreaking PW troupe debuting their improvisational soap opera “Blades of our Knives” for proving that taking the biggest risks often yield the most exhilarating payoffs. “Blades” features off-the-cuff, high-powered histrionics, accompanied by a real live band. Take that “Passions!”