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Bujeaud isn’t easily satisfied or easily frightened, but she’s proud of her latest project, an original adaptation of the 1959 black comedy “A Bucket of Blood” that opens tonight.
“I’ve wanted to direct something that is honestly scary,” she said. “I think we have managed to pull some moments into this show that are honestly scary, and that makes me very happy. It’s also very funny.”
The 1959 film, directed by Roger Corman and said to have been made in five days, tells the story of a frustrated would-be artist who happens upon a new method of creation after he accidentally kills his landlady’s cat. He covers the body in plaster to create a sculpture.
“Enjoy the hilarious! Enjoy the horrifying!” trumpets the film’s trailer. “It’s the weirdest and the wildest!” Maniacal laughter rings out, and the closing caption announces that this is “the picture that’ll make you sick, sick, sick — with laughter!”
The play’s script closely follows the film. “There have been changes due to the constraints of live theater, but I think it’s really stayed true to the spirit of the show. What are constraints are also opportunities because it gets to become my ‘Bucket,’ so to speak.” Bujeaud said.
The story is as much about Beatnik culture as it is about murder and mayhem.
“That’s one of the things that attracted me to the show,” Bujeaud said. “I love Beat poetry. The movie is a great little jab at how much time and energy goes into art. I’m guilty of it. I take it very seriously. The show is poking fun at us.”
The cast also takes art very seriously: Among the familiar faces are Mark Alford (of TAO’s “Cannibal” and a founder of the theater group Riot to Follow), Ryan Holmberg (also of “Cannibal” as well as Harlequin Production’s “Stardust Serenade,” and soon to be seen in Harlequin’s “Enchanted April”), the ubiquitious Heather Christopher, and Morgan Picton (host of The Royal Lounge’s standup comedy night).
In this Olympia theatrical adaptation, the world of the Beatniks looks familiar, too. It’s a world where everyone is an artist or wants to be, where people hang out all day in coffeehouses and where the food is decidedly not meat and potatoes.
In one scene, the characters feast on “soy and wheat germ pancakes ... organic guava nectar ... and garbanzo omelets sprinkled with smoked yeast.” ‘A Bucket of Blood’
What: Theatre Artists Olympia presents a theatrical adaptation of Roger Corman’s 1959 black comedy about a would-be artist who takes an unorthodox route.
When: 7:30 tonight-Sunday plus Feb. 23-25 and March 1-3; 2 p.m. March 4
Where: Eagles Underground, 805 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia
Tickets: $12
More information: olytheater.com or brownpapertickets.com
On video: Trailer at youtube.com/watch?v= h9OkxfDHe5w
