Interview with Director Michael Peretzian

The Road Theatre on Lankershim is proud to present the world premiere of Death House by Jason Karasev that first bowed as a staged reading in August of 2017 at the Road's Summer Playwrights Festival. It's a scintillating look at prisons and the death sentence as told through the struggles of an inmate on death row, the prison chaplain attending to her and the new pastor. Each week through March 10 we will spotlight a member of the cast or creative team. This week we shine the light on Death House's director Michael Peretzian.

What challenges do you face as director?

ONE WOULD THINK THAT A PLAY WITH ONLY THREE CHARACTERS IN ONE MINIMALIST SET WOULD BE A SNAP. NOT SO. THE WRITING IN “DEATH HOUSE” IS SO COMPLEX, THERE.WAS A LOT MORE HERE THAT MET THE EYE. THE CHARACTERS COME WITH SO MANY SECRETS FROM THEIR PAST WHICH SLOWLY ARE REVEALED DURING THE COURSE OF THE PLAY, SO THE WORK WITH THE ACTORS CONCENTRATED ON SUBTLE TRANSITIONS AND CHANGES IN OBJECTIVES IN DEVELOPING EACH OF THE CHARACTERS’ ARC IN THE STORY.

What do you think is the message of the play?

CERTAINLY, THE PLAY DEALS WITH THE ISSUE OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT WHICH IS SO MUCH IN THE NEWS RECENTLY. WE TRIED TO PRESENT EACH SIDE OF THIS QUESTION OF COMPASSION VERSUS RETALIATION. ON A MORE PERSONAL LEVEL, IT ALSO SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT JUDGEMENT IN OUR OWN LIVES, ABOUT HOW WE ARE ALL TOO READY TO JUDGE OTHERS EVEN IF WE HAVE NEVER WALKED IN THEIR SHOES. AT A TIME IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE WE ARE SO DIVIDED AND FIRM IN OUR JUDGEMENT OF THOSE WE DISAGREE WITH, THERE IS LITTLE CHANCE WE CAN EFFECTIVELY MOVE FORWARD. SO WE REMAIN SEPARATED, ISOLATED WITH OUR JUDGEMENTS. THIS PLAY MAY HELP TO MAKE US LOOK AT THAT IN OURSELVES.

Tell us about your cast and playwright.

JASON KARASEV IS A PROMISING AND GIFTED  NEW WRITER, AND “DEATH HOUSE” MAY BE A SEMINAL WORK IN A BRIGHT NEW CAREER HE HAS AHEAD OF HIM. THERE IS SOMETHING THAT FITS SO WONDERFULLY BETWEEN THE CHARACTER AND THE WORD WHEN THE PLAYWRIGHT IS ALSO AN ACTOR WHICH JASON IS. AS THE CAST CREATED THEIR CHARACTERS, THEY DISCOVERED NEW REVELATIONS THAT CAME TO THEM IN EACH REHEARSAL. THIS CAST IS A BLESSING FOR A DIRECTOR. THEIR INVESTIGATION OF THEIR CHARACTERS HAS BEEN A CREATIVE AND REWARDING EXPERIENCE. THEIR COMMITMENT HAS BEEN COMPLETE ON THIS JOURNEY, AND I AM SO PROUD OF THEM, AND GRATEFUL BECAUSE THEY MAKE ME LOOK SO GOOD!

Death House plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through March 10 at the historic Lankershim Arts Center at 5108 Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood. Arrive early to ensure street parking.