Hoyt Hilsman
‘Political Rights and Wrongs’ is a series of one act plays that will be produced this weekend on Saturday and Sunday at Parson’s Nose Theater (PNT).
Author of the series, resident playwright at PNT and political figure Hoyt Hilsman (also a resident Pasadenan) said he was inspired by political happenings in the country.
“I was inspired by a lot of the things that have been going on in our country politically, and the midterm elections that are coming up. I have found personally that I don’t like to sit in front of the TV and yell at it. I feel like it’s good to get up and do something about it. And in my case, since I’m a writer, I wanted to write about some of the issues. So I’ve decided to write about them in both a serious way and in a funny way, because people need some humor these days,” Hilsman said.
The serious issues Hilsman is referring to are abortion, gun control and gay rights. ‘Political Rights and Wrongs’ will have three short plays that are about 10 minutes each about the three serious issues.
The first show will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. and the second show will be on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 3 p.m.
The weekend readings will include the premiere of “Oh Those Trumps,” a comedy about the Trump family.
“I have always been interested in the Trump family and all the goings on before and after he (Donald Trump) was elected. And so I’ve written a comedy about the Trumps and it’s probably something that big Trump fans won’t love, but I think a lot of people will have a laugh or two about it.”
“If we just are sitting in front of a TV or the internet without communicating with others about our views and even disagreeing, if we can’t do that, then we’re going to be kind of stuck in our own bubbles. So I think it’s great for Pasadenans and people from all around the area to come out and share an evening of theater and talk a little bit about what they’ve seen on the stage and what their concerns are.”
According to Hilman, the first half of the performance would be pretty serious because the plays would be about serious issues, but the second half would be “very funny.”
To get tickets for the upcoming radio theater readings, visit: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/parsonsnose/1475/event/1296378
Since the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020, theater companies, including PNT, have been challenged like never before. The pandemic has prompted PNT to be more flexible when it comes to deciding how the public can enjoy its shows.
Aside from offering live performances, it now offers podcasts of its shows for free and radio theater readings, where actors would stand up in front of microphones and do performances.
“It’s a little more affordable. Audiences enjoy it, and it’s just a great format to enjoy a play,” said Hilman about radio theater readings.
A podcast of the “Political Rights and Wrongs” will be released soon, joining over 50 other podcasts of plays of PNT. It will be available to all for free on iTunes, Spotify and at parsonsnose.org.
Founded in 2000 by Lance Davis, along with his wife Mary, PNT’s mission is to make classic theater and stories more accessible.
Since its founding, the classic comedic theater company has performed plays penned by Shakespeare and the most revered writers of Western Literature including Molière, Goldoni, Shaw, Hans Andersen, Belasco, Boucicault, among others.
