INTERVIEW: ‘Teeth’ is both cautionary tale and revenge fantasy
Photo: Teeth stars Will Connolly and Alyse Alan Louis as step-siblings. Photo courtesy of Valerie Terranova / Provided by Vivacity Media Group with permission.
Teeth, the new musical finishing up a commercial run at New World Stages, is billed as a hilarious musical that centers on revenge, rage and transformation. The story, which is based on an indie film by Mitchell Lichtenstein, follows Dawn O’Keefe (Alyse Alan Louis), who grew up in an evangelical Christian household. Now, as a teenager, she is all about living a “pure” life like her fellow Promise Keeper Girls. But throughout the course of the show, she is tested and harassed by various men in her life, but her deep, dark secret is that she can bite back.
And bite back she does. (Audience members should be forewarned that the first few rows of the theater are a “Splash Zone.”)
The new musical, which began its life at Playwrights Horizons, features a book and music by Anna K. Jacobs, and book and lyrics by Michael R. Jackson. Sarah Benson directs the show, which continues until Sunday, Jan. 5, at the New World Stages complex.
Will Connolly plays the role of Brad O’Keefe, stepbrother to Dawn. His character had a tough childhood of repressed feelings and a strict father, and now as a teenager, he’s unearthing many memories from his past. Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Connolly about the new musical. He previously appeared on Broadway in Once, and his off-Broadway credits include everything from Clueless to This Ain’t No Disco. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What did you like when you first read Teeth?
First I was drawn to its sense of humor. But as I kept reading, and the play became more and more unhinged, I was really intrigued by the challenge of staging these wild events. I kept asking myself, “How are we actually going to do that?”
How would you describe your character of Brad O’Keefe?
Brad is the only biological child of a violent and abusive father and an absent mother, as well as the stepbrother of Dawn, who physically traumatizes him at a very early age. This event is pivotal in shaping Brad’s worldview and distrust of both his family and the over-zealous religious community that raised him. He’s always seen himself as an outlier, but despite his resistance to his environment, he is absolutely desperate for a group of peers who understand and accept him for who he is. When he finds acceptance in an equally toxic community of men called the Truthseekers, Brad discovers that his experience gives him unique insight and leadership abilities. In a way, Brad’s path is kind of a twisted Hero’s Journey, though it doesn’t end so well for him.
Has the musical changed at all after its transfer from Playwrights Horizons?
In some ways. Obviously we’re in a different and larger theater, so there’s a lot of small spacing and blocking changes. We have a few new cast members, some small rewrites, and lyric changes peppered throughout the show. But the structure and soul of Teeth is essentially the same now as it was at Playwrights Horizons.
Were you familiar with the original movie?
I hadn’t seen the movie until right before starting rehearsals at Playwrights Horizons. It’s so much fun. I was nervous to watch it at first, but I’m so glad I did. The musical has changed so much about my character that I didn’t feel like there was any risk of creative cross-contamination.
What do you think the musical says about society and religion today?
There are people who are probably much more qualified to answer this question, but I think Teeth is both a cautionary tale and a revenge fantasy. I think when a community, religious or otherwise, makes a point of denying the truth from its members, refuses to educate and support them, operates without any due process and deifies people who claim to have answers but don’t, it’s only a matter of time before someone starts asking dangerous questions and people start getting hurt.
And while Dawn’s rampage is, in a way, quite satisfying — to see her find her power and watch her abusers suffer — it also comes at a terrible price as she transforms into the exact kind of monster she sets out to destroy. No one comes out of this unscathed, not even the audience who find themselves applauding a vicious and murderous dictator.
What’s next for you after Teeth?
Honestly, I don’t know. If you have any leads, please keep me posted!
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Teeth, featuring Will Connolly, continues through Sunday, Jan. 5, at New World Stages in Midtown Manhattan. Click here for more information and tickets.
