Known for its immersive approach to performance, First Take Co. brings theatre to the movies in its production of Annie Baker’s 2013 Pulitzer Prize–winning play The Flick. Founder and Creative Director Ethan Graham Roeder directs one of First Take Co.’s more traditional theatrical productions, but with this company, even the term “traditional” is given an innovative twist. Making clever use of the venue, “Knoxville’s Neighborhood Moviehouse” Central Cinema, this production of The Flick offers audiences a unique experience that reimagines both cinema and theatre and embraces the fact that life doesn’t always play out like a script.
The Flick, which takes place in a small movie theater, is about much more than movies. Avery, played by Michael Spurgeon, is a shy cinephile who takes a job at The Flick, specifically because it is one of the last movie theaters in town to show films in their original 35mm celluloid format—he laments the rest of the movie theater world “going digital.” Sam, played by Luke Atchley, is responsible for showing Avery the ropes at The Flick, such as cleaning the auditorium after shows (there is a lot of sweeping done during this production!) and the secret, perhaps illegal “employee tradition” of “dinner money.” Rose, the other theater employee, played by Callie Bacon, is fun and elusive, and despite Sam’s troubled and antagonistically romantic efforts to be her friend, he doesn’t actually “know her” like he thinks he does. And for Skylar, played by Brady Craddock, who appears at the end of The Flick as Avery’s newly hired replacement, working at the newly re-named The Venue is just a job: he has little interest, unlike Avery did, in trying to make friends with Sam. Between dealing with a scummy boss (who hasn’t?), the threat of The Flick being sold, and their jobs being on the line, Avery, Sam, and Rose navigate the messiness of work and life: friendships, romance, and lots of shit (literally and figuratively speaking). The Flick wrestles with issues of mental health, sex, and race that bubble beneath the surface of this stripped down, unassuming production. A lot happens during those sweeping sessions, the “afterhours” of our lives.
Spurgeon, Atchley, Bacon, and Craddock are all stellar as underpaid and overworked employees of the theater. It really does feel like, as you’re sitting in the audience, that you’re one of those lagging patrons who wait out the end credits, yet we are asked to ignore the “show’s over” message of sweeping employees to experience a secret post-credits bonus feature. Central Cinema in the Happy Holler district of Old North Knoxville is the perfect venue for this production: as a small, one-screen, locally owned and operated movie theater, Central Cinema is The Flick, and the narrative issue of the commercialization of movie theaters resonates in that space. As Central Cinema “caters to film fans of all kinds” and is known for showing first-run independent film, cult classics, and themed nights, you could imagine it showing Avery’s, Sam’s, and Rose’s favorite flicks. First Take Co.’s production of The Flick also makes clever use of the movie house’s technology; one small but important scene was filmed beforehand and projected onto the movie screen. Audiences watch Avery and Rose as they themselves watch a movie, blending the magic of the screen with the magic of the stage. It’s a beautiful synthesis of space and story that reminds us of the value of our local arts scenes and what theatre can achieve in non-traditional spaces.
Since this production uses half of Central Cinema’s one auditorium as its “stage,” seating is limited. The Flick opened on June 16 at Knoxville’s Central Cinema, located at 1205 North Central Street, and has available showings on June 19 at 7:30 p.m., June 22 at 1 p.m., and June 23 at 1 p.m. Most dates are already sold out, but there is still some availability for Saturday, June 22, at 1 p.m, so get tickets while you can!
