PRESS FOR VISITING CEZANNE (Edinburgh 2022)
Cezanne one of the top ten shows at the Fringe!
“explores what represents failure and success for artists. How ‘failing’ can actually give us something to learn from.”
Smuggler Spirits, “10 Shows to See at the Fringe”
“‘Always a moment of dread when I approach an empty canvas.’ Cezanne’s statement could be applied to the characters' feelings about life."
The Reviews Hub – Scotland
★ ★ ★ “Quite a nice little ending.”
Sinners Review
Who We Are
Red Rover is a scrappy theatre company launched in Seattle in 2016 by two veteran playwrights, John C. Davenport and Duane Kelly. Frustrated with the limited production opportunities for new plays at Seattle's established theatres, they decided to take charge and put up their own work. The company's inaugural full production, staged October 2016, was John’s play Red Rover (from which the name for their company was shamelessly stolen). Duane's play Das Ende, produced March 2017, was the second presentation. Subsequent full productions were Visiting Cezanne in March 2018, Asylum in Georgia in February 2020, and Patrimony May 2022. Production photos can be seen here. The plan is to stage a new play every year or so.
John C. Davenport is a career journalist and former stand-up comic, who veered into playwriting, which he usually does while seated. He has had full-length and one-act plays, mostly comedies, produced in 22 states, Canada and Panama. John is the leader of Seattle Playwrights Circle and a member of the Dramatists Guild of America.
Duane Kelly is the author of eleven full-length plays. Productions: Visiting Cezanne (Burien Actors Theatre, 2019), Visiting Cezanne (Red Rover Theatre Company, 2018), Escorting Tom (Burien Actors Theatre, 2017), Das Ende (Red Rover Theatre Company, 2017). Publications: Enquiry Concerning Hereafter (Adam Smith Works, 2022), Das Ende (Cantus Theaterverlag, Eschach, Germany, 2018). His plays have had readings at Last Frontier Theatre Conference (Alaska) with Edward Albee, Seven Devils Playwrights Conference (Idaho), Key City Theatre (Pt. Townsend, WA), and ACT Theatre (Seattle); and in New York, at Ensemble Studio Theatre, Lark Play Development Center, and id Theatre. In 2016 he co-founded Red Rover Theatre Company, which performs new plays in Seattle's fringe venues. Duane is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and for eight years served as the Guild's regional representative for Washington State.
PRESS FOR VISITING CEZANNE (Seattle 2018)
"If you like art, and have a special fondness for Impressionism, Post-Impressionism and early modern art, it is definitely an interesting play to see."
Drama in the Hood, March 30, 2018
PRESS FOR DAS ENDE
“You feel compelled to find out what’s going to happen next, as unlikely as it all might be.”
Seattle Gay Scene, March 31, 2017
PRESS FOR RED ROVER
"Red Rover offers an enjoyable night out at the theatre."
Drama in the Hood, October 12, 2016