Zachery Dunne

Blue Group

The interactive performance Toast, is the most recent release from Dog & Pony DC.
The performance sets itself apart with its creativity and its innovative use of audience interaction.
I saw the play at Shakespeare Theatre Company where it was a mix of a play, science fair, and
official meeting, as directors Rachel Grossman and Ivania Stack surprisingly combine these
elements with ease. The theme exemplified throughout the minimal time of true scripted work
was the idea that beneficial change can come from the smallest things, such as a toaster.
After audience members are given time to browse exhibits such as an invention board,
and a fortune teller, the leader of the meeting, Sam Jordan, played by Quilla Otto-Jacobs, calls
for everyone to sit. Jordan is cast as an enthusiastic leader of the group the Order of Wind and
Lightning (OWL), whose objective is to find the next technological breakthrough. Other
members of the group include Alex Billings (Shannon Davies Mancus), Chris Gertner (Jon
Reynolds), Joey Lane (Kerry McGee), and Morgan Pitt (Lori Pitts). After the meeting begins a
video is shown on the objective of the OWL and the purpose of the conference is discussed. The
OWLs reason is to broaden its group of members and to find the next technological advance,
which will be done from a toaster. Audience members then split up into groups led by original
members of the order to brainstorm ideas related to the toaster. In the group with Chris Gertner,
who is cast as a serious, opinionated man, ideas associated were so abstract that it caused
problems with the authenticity of the play. As all groups were called back together, ideas were
freely debated until one final revolutionary idea was reached. To give an example of how
farfetched the performance was, our final idea was a machine that could regenerate anything
from happiness, to people, and somehow the thought started from a toaster.
The performance is successful in its portrayal of the theme as it clearly shows big ideas of
change can come from small things although there are flaws in how the actual material is

Zachery Dunne

Blue Group

presented. For example, many details are exaggerated, as a Ferrari cannot actually be associated
closely with a toaster. Also some flaws in acting can be detected, as two characters such as Lane
and Jordan were seen talking out of character during the video being shown. One character that
does stand out, is Chris Gertner. Gertner played by Jon Reynolds does a magnificent job of
staying in character, not laughing, or even smiling, at unexpected jokes from the audience.
Gertner also stayed with a steady approach, even while being in a group of teen aged
inventors. Another member of The OWL who does an almost perfect acting job is Morgan Pitt
(Lori Pitts). Pitts, a physical scientist, is always examining things and thinking in a stereotypical
scientific manner, to help create a defined character. In addition, she never sits down in a regular
way, either kneeling or having a leg draped over her chair, adds to the difficulty of personifying
her character. Pantomime, used by most of the actors can be seen throughout. Pitt is seen reading
a newspaper while, Gertner was on a phone. All of the characters do a great job of staying in
character, even with unknown things being thrown at them, as they all ran with the ideas given
by their group members.
The performance also utilizes sounds and other effects to create a more interesting
atmosphere. Lighting is used when someone was presenting to add to the meaning of whatever
was being shown. Lighting was also used when the toaster was unveiled. In addition to this,
music was also used in that moment to increase the importance of what was about to be revealed,
a toaster. These two things were put to use as much as possible during the few scripted parts of
Toast. The set, simple but still masterful is unique but vital to the performance. It has many
things such as a white board for inventions, a fortune telling booth, and other contraptions
devised just to show parts of the play. Most importantly, designers Colin Bills, Zach Dalton, Jenn
Larsen, Kate Loveric, and the directors, have the audience and the characters circled around a

Zachery Dunne

Blue Group

pedestal with a toaster on it. This immediately turns attention to the meaning of the play, a
toaster, and the theme. These designers also create costumes to develop characters. Gertner wears
black as he is very serious, Billings has colorful clothing as she is cheerful, and so on.
Directors Rachel Grossman and Ivania Stack influence the presentation in many ways.
First they had to come up with a method to express the whole idea of Toast. The idea of a
meeting influences the theme by making it seem as if all people are having to converse over one
small thing to create change. Other decisions such as when to incorporate audience interaction
are important to how the performance comes across.
Overall the interactive performance Toast, is a very fun, exciting, and thoughtful work.
It could use works on small flawed details, such as characterization. But set design, characters
such as Chris Gertner and Morgan Pitt, and the complete creativity of the show are enjoyable
enough to allow Toast to be something audience members want to experience again and again.