A Conversation With Playwright/Actress Pam Levin, “Astrologically Screwed,” Hudson Backstage Theatre, Hollywood Fringe Festival, by James Scarborough.
June 16, 2024
JS: How did you come up with the idea for "Astrologically Screwed”? What personal experiences sparked its creation?
PL: I was 3 months deep in the middle of writing my next solo show in Terrie Silverman’s Creative Rites Master Class. The theme was a coming of age story. Something like, “Homecoming Queen… A blessing or a curse”, when this OTHER story started tapping me on the shoulder saying, “Pick Me! Pick Me!” I was fearful that my teacher would think that it was ridiculous to start from scratch after I had been working so hard on something else for so long. But oddly enough, Terrie Sliverman convinced me to trust my instincts and see where it takes me. She said, “Trust the process.”
It was bringing back memories that I had shelved and completely forgot about.
When I was 25 years old, my stepmother treated me to an astrological reading of my personal chart. This woman was incredibly intuitive and one by one these predictions she made started to come true. It was uncanny how accurate she was, however, the last thing she said shook me to the core.
JS: How does astrology serve as a metaphor for the human condition?
PL: I think many people are intrigued with the possibilities of what the future has in store for us. As humans, I think it is normal to fear the unknown. Or at least be fascinated by it. Being a Virgo, I tend to want to be in control , a perfectionist. Astrology is methodical in the respect that it is basically a formula that consists of 3 things. You take the date of your birthday, the location in which you were born and the exact time of your birth. These ingredients mixed together will create a chart that will tell you about your life and guide you towards your destiny. If that’s not titillating, I don’t know what is.
JS: Elaborate on the role of humor. How does it help to convey deeper themes?
PL: When a topic is heavy it makes people uncomfortable. I think when we add humor and levity to a story, it makes the message easier to digest in a non-threatening way.
JS: How did your collaboration with Chera Marks enhance the direction and presentation of the play?
PL: Chera is lovely! She is a very laid back person which is an excellent fit to my ultra caffeinated personality. She is a perfect ying to my yang. I had very specific ideas about what music I wanted to use in this piece. Chera is extremely open to brainstorming and collaborating. She compliments my choices by adding these whimsical songs that are so fantastic and FUN! The balance between her ideas and mine blend into a super yummy secret sauce! She has a wonderful sense of vision of the big picture. I knew that I wanted to incorporate weather as the theme that moves the story forward. From rain, lightning, ominous clouds to wild winds, the weather dictates the progression of the story and sets the tone for the entire production. I shared this idea with Chera and she took it to the next level. Chera adds the little details. The special touches.
JS: What challenges did you face in transitioning “Astrologically Screwed” from a virtual performance to a live stage production?
PL: The virtual performance is a double edged sword. It was such a blessing in pandemic because it gave creatives a platform to create and share their work. That was AWESOME! Being able to perform and having people from all over the world watch was the coolest thing ever. Family and friends were able to see the show from Philadelphia to Poland. It didn’t matter where they lived, they could still be a part of it. However, because I wrote this show in lock down, I felt like I was performing in a vacuum.
My premiere was virtual and even though I was proud of this new play, I had no idea if it was working because I couldn’t hear the laughter or see the tears from my audience.
Finally transitioning back to the stage with a live audiece was such a breath of fresh air. The instant gratification of hearing the audience roar with laughter or seeing the tears stream down their face was truly exhilarating!!! It made the wait well worth it!
JS: How do you balance the elements of mysticism and realism in your narrative to maintain audience engagement?
PL: I think the audiences were engaged because the stories were so unpredictable, it kept them on the edge of their seat. One audience review said:
“With a looming, uncertain prediction hanging over the story, you have no choice but to be invested in the outcome.” – Dawn Branch
JS: How has your experience with solo performances influenced your approach to this particular piece?
PL: I have had the pleasure of being a solo artist since 1998. I try to learn from each project and continually up the bar for myself. I had watched a one-man show on television, called, “In and Of Itself.” I loved this piece because it opened my eyes to so many possibilies regarding set production. The quality of the visuals were so interesting and unique I thought to myself, “I want to focus on making this new show look visually amazing!”
I had a superb graphic designer named Stewart Hopewell create this montage that has photos inside frames displayed on the wall behind me. The photos are all on a wall as if it were in someone’s home. When I share in the story that something had given me reason to believe that this would be the last year of my life, thunder cracks and the pictures on the wall all fall behind me. Then the wall itself falls down in this video and immediately turns into a sky full of rain. It’s so AMAZING! I loved uping the value of the production by adding these incredible visuals.
JS: How do you hope audiences will interpret the ending of “Astrologically Screwed” and its life-affirming message?
PL: I think this show takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride of not knowing if this last prediction is going to come to fruition. Hopefully, if I’ve done my job right, the audience will be at the edge of their seats rutting for me to come out as unscathed as humanly possible. And when the signs of my guardian angels reveal themselves, I hope people will be awe-inspired and wonderfully uplifted. One audience member said, “The show filled me with a sense of wonder and gratitude.” -Jean Franzblau. Another said, “This show is other worldly. It will make you believe.”-Gabrielle Pascoe. But my favorite is…
“It leaves you with a heartwarming message to believe in your angels.”- Liza Dealey-Thomason
JS: What do you believe is the significance of combining personal anecdotes with fictional elements in storytelling?
PL: Oddly enough, so much of the story is 99.9 % true. I did take some liberties to make the story slightly more colorful, but it’s minor. I love when other writers blend both truth with fiction, but as bizarre as this might sound, this particular story’s truth is much stranger than fiction.
JS: How has the feedback from previous solo shows shaped your development as a performer and writer for this play?
PL: I really do pay attention to the feedback I have received in the past. It has helped me be more specific with my choices on stage. It has helped me craft my characters and made them more precise both vocally and in their mannerisms. I see what kind of things the audience appreciates. What makes them laugh. What touches them. I have learned that when I am not pushing and at my most vulnerable moments, that is when the audience truly champions you most!
Performances are Sunday, June 9, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 19, at 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, June 29, at 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $20, with a discounted price of $12 for students and seniors. The Hudson Backstage Theatre is located at 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90038. For more information, click here.