{"id":8466,"date":"2020-07-14T13:54:32","date_gmt":"2020-07-14T20:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cohoproductions.org\/old\/?p=8466"},"modified":"2020-08-11T12:13:09","modified_gmt":"2020-08-11T19:13:09","slug":"black-box-literary-feedback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cohoproductions.org\/old\/blog\/black-box-literary-feedback\/","title":{"rendered":"Theatre Professionals are Talking About Black Box"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Here is what theatre professionals have to say about Black Box, <\/em>the premier novel from CoHo co-founder Gary Cole.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Paul Frellick<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

“BLACK BOX is a nicely paced tale, told with insight and affection for both the theater and suspense genre \u2013 a nifty mash-up of Ibsen, Shakespeare, and Mickey Spillane.\u201d<\/em><\/p> <\/em>Paul Frellick, Former Artistic Director at Organic Theater (Chicago)<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Mead Hunter<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBlack Box is a lot of fun. Gary D. Cole takes a beloved staple of mystery novels\u2014the hard-nosed, wisecracking gumshoe\u2014and transforms him into Portland\u2019s latest theater critic, devising a local version of Hamlet\u2019s Mousetrap stratagem to nudge a dangerous secret into the open. Along the way, we get to visit some of our favorite watering holes and performing spaces (and enjoy some inside jokes, as well), in a story whose twists and turns keep you guessing until the very end.\u201d <\/p> Mead Hunter, Former Literary Director at Portland Center Stage<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Michael Griggs<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn entertaining and engaging trip through the dark side of live theater; its backstage and offstage politics, its actors, technicians, producers, critics, patrons and audiences.  As dark as the world portrayed in Black Box<\/em> may be, it also testifies to the power of live theater as a home to dedicated artists, and its unique power to move and open the minds of the audience.\u201d <\/p> Michael Griggs, Portland theater Director <\/a>
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Michael Mendelson<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

“Reading Black Box<\/em> by Gary D. Cole felt like a Thursday throw back.  There is something about the \u201cfilm noir\u201d quality, the seedy side of the old Portland theatre scene and city, the recognizable sounding places, the actual places and the fun familiarity, if not stock characters, of the theatre folk that inhabit this story that makes this novel a quick and often exciting read. Some nice twists and turns and unexpected surprises along the way were great. One thing I enjoyed in particular was the dogged determination of our protagonist, fighting through his own demons, to gather and inspire those around him to forge on and persevere. To win and in the winning learn something about himself and his personal journey. If you\u2019re a lover of theatre, you\u2019ll really love the journey through Black Box<\/em>.”<\/p>Michael Mendelson, Artistic Director at Portland Shakespeare Project<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Karen Magaldi<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

“Black Box\u00a0<\/em>is a cornucopia of delights. Cole\u2019s protagonist, a transplanted theater critic playing detective, pens a “Mousetrap” to reveal sex, lies and secrets. In this world, money incites the action: who has it, who doesn\u2019t and what the characters do to get it. There are laugh-out-loud recognition scenes of local Portland theaters seasoned with nefarious politics, aspiring stage personalities, and backstage surprises. The revelations keep coming with a satisfying recognition scene and final accounting. What fun!”<\/p>Karin Magaldi, Associate Director of Theater\u00a0and Professor, Theater Arts Portland State University<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

CLICK HERE for more information about Gary Cole’s latest endeavor, “Black Box: Page to Stage”<\/a><\/h3>\n

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