←Recommendations of The Exit Interview (Published by Concord)

The Exit Interview is a very funny romp of a play, Brechtian to its core, full of religion versus science, small talk versus big talk, and Fox News versus the rest of us. Bertolt would be jealous.

I wouldn’t call this a tribute to Brecht’s epic theater, I would call this the real-thing. The hugely ambitious premise of utilizing the Epic Theatre to dramatize a school shooting sounds impossible, yet somehow through placards, songs, alienation, multiple story lines, and tests of moral complexity, Downs manages to embody every facet of Brecht’s artistic vision. Both humorous and tragic, I found myself gasping and laughing during the absurdity that plays out at break-neck speed. The German theorist would be proud, and, I’m guessing, a little envious of Downs’ mastery.

A thoroughly disturbing Brechtian tale for our times, splattered with politics, religion and ads for Diet Coke. Written ahead of its time, THE EXIT INTERVIEW is reminiscent of Ping Chong's TRUTH & BEAUTY in rock and roll anarchy, while formatted expertly with Verfremdungseffekt. With cheerleaders. Brecht would be proud of this challenging and topical piece.

The Exit Interview by William Missouri Downs received a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere. The partnering NNPN Member Theaters were Orlando Shakespeare Theater (FL), Riverside Theatre (Iowa City, IA), Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte (NC), InterAct Theatre Company (Philadelphia, PA), San Diego Repertory Theatre (CA), and Salt Lake Acting Company (UT).

This is one of the craziest plays I've come across in a long time. And I loved every minute of it. Riding that high-wire between absurd and accessible, it's a play that feels refreshingly of-the-moment while having its feet firmly planted in some very universal truths. Oh, and it's also hilarious.

Bill Downs is one of those rare playwrights it's getting harder and harder to find in the American Theatre -- he knows how to write funny, really funny. And in the middle of the laughter, and enjoyment of the unfolding evening of theatre, you realize you've been seduced into doing that other thing that's so hard to accomplish in the theatre -- you really start to think! And this is one of Bill's best!

This NNPN Rolling World Premiere was produced by Orlando Shakespeare in 2012. It is an insightful, funny, engaging and dark look at academia, the media, modern society and the psychological forces that drive us to kill, love and engage with our fellow travelers on spaceship earth. Recommend.