The Wake of Dick Johnson

Last updated
The Wake of Dick Johnson
The Wake of Dick Johnson.jpg
Directed byLuke H. Walker
Written byLuke H. Walker
Production
company
Distributed by Amazon
Release date
  • 2016 (2016)
CountryUSA
LanguageEnglish

The Wake of Dick Johnson is a 2016 theatrical play and feature film produced by Alt Variety and distributed by Amazon. [1] It was written, directed by, and stars Luke Walker (Luke Henry Walker). The story takes place at the wake of its protagonist Dick Johnson, who returns from death to bitterly ruminate about the afterlife, which according to Johnson is a bleak and endless loop of all the world's agonies. [2] [3] The feature film was adapted for screen from the 2016 off-broadway play––also written by, directed and starring Walker––and produced under the same title. [4]

Contents

Plot

The Wake of Dick Johnson explores profound questions of memory, identity, and the human condition.

Trapped in a purgatorial state between life and death, the central character grapples with the haunting remnants of his past. Plagued by vivid recollections of trauma, Johnson struggles to separate reality from the reeling apparitions that assail his troubled mind. 

As his tenuous grasp on self dissolves into the abyss, Johnson reflects on the fleeting nature of existence and the indifferent vastness of the universe. He questions whether life itself holds any inherent meaning or purpose. If all mortal deeds are but ephemeral ripples soon subsumed by oblivion's tide, what truths - if any - can be discerned amid the chaos?

His relentless descent brings more unsettling revelations. Johnson comes to see humanity as infinitely small against the cosmic whole, our existence a profoundly improbable accident. Life appeared where it never should have, and in death we return to the nothingness from which we came. 

Yet something darker also emerges. Johnson's musings give rise to a Lynchian vision where consciousness outlives the corporeal form. The mind becomes a prison, doomed to relive memories of pain unending. Even in nonexistence, some wounds may never fully heal.  

As Johnson's ravings devolve into nihilistic abandon, the play asks us to confront life's deepest enigmas. It leaves the audience to wonder: what separates us from the abyss, and how do we find purpose in a universe seemingly devoid of it? A haunting meditation on the human condition, and all that lies beyond the blackness of death's eternal night.

According to Johnson, death is an alternate universe where the cumulative evils of terrestrial life throughout history "abrade the walls of space-time, leaving behind trillions of minuscule punctures and abrasions in the same way sound is recorded on a vinyl record." In this afterlife, Johnson is continually haunted by the ethereal visage of his long-deceased childhood guardian, Uncle Willy. Willy, depicted as a sadistic psychopath who brutally tortured and abused Johnson during his early years, appears on an antique television throughout the play to torment him and gleefully remind him of his past traumas. Both characters, portrayed by the same actor, interact dynamically—often merging and finishing each other's sentences—highlighting the narrative that all things are interconnected in the universe "like fibers in a loom."

Johnson describes this astral plane as one where the most heinous evils throughout all time converge and merge into a singular entity. For Johnson, this realm is a personalized version of hell where he and Uncle Willy are inextricably intertwined for all eternity. [5]

Adding to the unsettling atmosphere, scenes from Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" play throughout the show. These scenes act as a disturbing metronome, paralleling the narrative and escalating the tension. [6]

Play

The Wake of Dick Johnson first premiered in June 2016 in the basement of Maggie Mae's Pub in Queens, New York. In spring 2019, Walker produced a second full-length run of the play in a small, secluded cabin in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was there the play began to receive attention and received its first formal review by Charlotte-based publication QC Nerve. The publication described the play as "[a] comic, eloquent and upsetting rumination on a meaningless universe where even death will not relieve the pain of living." and cited Walker's "distinctive voice" as "poetic, profane and dark as a starless night." [7]

In October, 2019 The Wake of Dick Johnson returned to New York at Performance Space 122; this time Walker incorporated a live score composed by Asheville, North Carolina–based musical duo Okapi (Lindsey Miller, Scott Gorski). There, the play received yet another laudatory review by Broadwayworld.com, which described the play as "gory," "disturbing," "ghastly," "graphic, and grotesque." The review went on to say "this off-broadway show is gory, freaky, and downright alarming." [8] Broadway World described namesake protagonist, Dick Johnson, as a character you instantly hate, but "relatable in the most chilling way". Time Out New York added The Wake of Dick Johnson to its top-13 list of Halloween events. [9] In December 2019 QC Nerve voted The Wake of Dick Johnson Critic's Pick "Best Of the Year 2019" for best one man show. [10] In 2021, Walker brought the show to Los Angeles for its West Coast premiere at the Hudson Theatres. The Wake of Dick Johnson received yet more accolades for its fearlessness and originality. Cultural Attaché praised Walker and compared his writing to the late Charles Bukowski. [11] Horror Buzz rallied behind the show, praising the performance and set design and calling Walker a "powerhouse," [12] citing the alluring pit of existential dread and beauty in how meaningless and fleeting life is portrayed in the play.

According to an interview on Los Angeles Public Radio, Walker undertook every element of this production in most runs of the play. He designed and built the set by hand, produced it himself, and even devised a series of switches to control lighting, and audio visual cues. [13]

Controversy

Luke Walker's play, "The Wake of Dick Johnson," has been surrounded by various controversies over its runs and productions. In the initial stages, Walker's friend, an amateur actor, was slated to play the role of Dick Johnson but withdrew shortly before the debut, citing personal reasons. Walker, who had starred in the play's first three runs, eventually assumed the role.

During the Charlotte premiere, Walker's former girlfriend, a social media influencer, publicly criticized the play, leading to a social media campaign against him. Similarly, during the play's third run at prestigious New York City theatre Mabou Mines at Performance Space New York (PS122) in 2019, there was significant contention with theater management over the play's content. Theater management allegedly demanded censorship of what they deemed offensive and insensitive language, which Walker refused, citing artistic integrity and First Amendment rights. This standoff resulted in extreme measures by theatre management such as locking the doors to the theater to prevent ticket holders from entering the show. [14]

Following these events, a Tony Award-winning producer Cody Lawson signed on to produce a Broadway run of "The Wake of Dick Johnson" for fall 2020. However, shortly after having the script academically peer reviewed, Lawson ceased all forms of communication with Walker without explanation, and the production was abandoned.

In 2021, Walker faced further challenges when bringing the play to the Hollywood. Despite positive reception at The Hudson Theatres, a critical review from Broadway World criticized the play as "tedious and bewildering," raising questions about its creative direction. [15] [16] Walker disputed claims, citing email exchanges between the reporters and his publicist in which they called Walker a bigot, and threatening to ruin him. The story was later retracted by the publisher.

Walker remains committed to his artistic vision despite these challenges, seeking to continue producing and showcasing "The Wake of Dick Johnson" to wider audiences in the future. [17]

Reception

Although described as disturbing, grotesque, [18] and highly controversial, to date the play received unanimous critical praise, calling it profound, poetic and fearlessly bleak. [19] It was listed in Time Out New York Top-13 Halloween theater events [20] [21] alongside many world renowned plays such as The Glass Menagerie, Little Shop of Horrors, and Sleep No More.

Cast

Related Research Articles

<i>Death of a Salesman</i> 1949 play by Arthur Miller

Death of a Salesman is a 1949 stage play written by the American playwright Arthur Miller. The play premiered on Broadway in February 1949, running for 742 performances. It is a two-act tragedy set in late 1940s Brooklyn told through a montage of memories, dreams, and arguments of the protagonist Willy Loman, a travelling salesman who is despondent with his life and appears to be slipping into senility. The play addresses a variety of themes, such as the American Dream, the anatomy of truth, and infidelity. It won the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play. It is considered by some critics to be one of the greatest plays of the 20th century. The play is included in numerous anthologies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Lloyd</span> American actor (born 1938)

Christopher Allen Lloyd is an American actor. He has appeared in many theater productions, films, and television shows since the 1960s. He is known for portraying Emmett Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy (1985–1990) and Jim Ignatowski in the comedy series Taxi (1978–1983), for which he won two Emmy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurie Metcalf</span> American actress (born 1955)

Laura Elizabeth Metcalf is an American actress and comedian. Known for her complex and versatile roles across the stage and screen, she has received various accolades throughout her career spanning more than four decades, including four Primetime Emmy Awards and two Tony Awards, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and three Golden Globe Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Menken</span> American composer (born 1949)

Alan Irwin Menken is an American composer and conductor. Over his career he has received numerous accolades including winning eight Academy Awards, a Tony Award, eleven Grammy Awards, seven Golden Globe Awards, and a Daytime Emmy Award. He is one of 21 recipients to have won the competitive EGOT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. K. Simmons</span> American actor (born 1955)

Jonathan Kimble Simmons is an American character actor. His career spans over five decades of screen and stage. Simmons is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a British Academy Film Award for his supporting role in Damien Chazelle's independent film Whiplash (2014).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Noth</span> American actor (born 1954)

Christopher David Noth is an American actor. He is known for his television roles as NYPD Detective Mike Logan on Law & Order (1990–1995), Big on Sex and the City (1998–2004), and Peter Florrick on The Good Wife (2009–2016).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelli O'Hara</span> American actress and singer (born 1976)

Kelli Christine O'Hara is an American actress and singer, most known for her work on the Broadway and opera stages.

<i>The Color Purple</i> (musical) 2005 musical

The Color Purple is a musical with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray, based on the 1982 novel The Color Purple by Alice Walker and its 1985 film adaptation. The musical follows the journey of Celie, an African American woman in the American South from the early to mid-20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawrence Leritz</span> American ballet dancer and choreographer

Lawrence Leritz is an American actor, dancer, singer, producer, director, fitness expert and choreographer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Smolin</span> American singer-songwriter

Barry Smolin, also known as Mr. Smolin, is an American radio host, teacher, composer, and writer. He last taught at Alexander Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, and was a longtime radio host on L.A. area public radio station KPFK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Sadoski</span> American actor (born 1976)

Thomas Christian Sadoski is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Don Keefer in the HBO series The Newsroom (2012-14) and as Matt Short in the CBS sitcom Life in Pieces (2015-19).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Roth</span> American theater producer (born 1975)

Jordan Roth is an American theater producer. He is the president and majority owner of Jujamcyn Theaters in New York City. Roth oversees five Broadway theatres including the St. James, Al Hirschfeld, August Wilson, Eugene O'Neill, and the Walter Kerr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Cephas Jones</span> American actor (1957–2023)

Ron Cephas Jones was an American actor, best known for his role as William Hill in the drama series This Is Us (2016–2022), which earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award; along with four consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning twice for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2018 and 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Malloy</span> American composer and actor

Dave Malloy is an American composer, playwright, lyricist, singer, orchestrator, and actor. He has written several theatrical works, often based on classic works of literature. His most well known work is the Tony Award winning Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, an electropop opera based on War and Peace. His other works include Ghost Quartet, a song cycle about "love, death, and whiskey"; Preludes, a musical fantasia set in the mind of romantic composer Sergei Rachmaninoff; Octet, a chamber choir musical about internet addiction; and Moby-Dick, an adaptation of Herman Melville's classic novel.

<i>Hamilton</i> (musical) 2015 biographical musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Hamilton: An American Musical is a sung-and-rapped-through biographical musical with music, lyrics, and a book by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Based on the 2004 biography Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, the musical covers the life of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton and his involvement in the American Revolution and the political history of the early United States. Composed over a seven-year period from 2008 to 2015, the music draws heavily from hip hop, as well as R&B, pop, soul, and traditional-style show tunes. It casts non-white actors as the Founding Fathers of the United States and other historical figures. Miranda described Hamilton as about "America then, as told by America now".

<i>The Woodsman</i> (play) 2012 play about the Tin Man

The Woodsman is a 2012 American stage play written by James Ortiz with music composed by Edward W. Hardy and lyrics by Jennifer Loring. It focuses on the story of the Tin Woodman character from L. Frank Baum's series of books set in the fictional Land of Oz, notably Baum's 1918 book The Tin Woodman of Oz. The production employs live performers, puppets, music, and very few spoken words.

<i>Be More Chill</i> (musical) 2015 musical by Joe Iconis

Be More Chill is a musical with original music and lyrics by Joe Iconis, and a book by Joe Tracz, based on the 2004 novel of the same name by Ned Vizzini. After a 2015 regional theatre production, the musical premiered off-Broadway in 2018. A Broadway production began previews on February 13, 2019, and officially opened on March 10, 2019. The Broadway production closed on August 11, 2019. An Off West End production opened on February 18, 2020, and temporarily closed on March 16, 2020, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with the production being cancelled on June 3, 2020. In 2021, it was announced that the production, featuring the original London cast, would resume performances on the West End at the Shaftesbury Theatre for a 10-week run starting June 30. A Chicago production was set to open in July 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Armstrong Johnson</span> American actor, singer, and dancer

Jay Armstrong Johnson is an American actor, singer, and dancer, known for starring roles on Broadway in musicals like Parade, On the Town, and The Phantom of the Opera and for his portrayal of Will Olsen in the ABC television series Quantico.

"You Will Be Found" is the Act 1 finale of the 2015 musical Dear Evan Hansen, which premiered on Broadway in 2016. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul wrote both the music and lyrics to the song.

Hillary and Clinton is a play written by Lucas Hnath that premiered in 2016 at the Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago. The play is set in an alternate universe and tells a story centering on Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign.

References

  1. ↑ Amazon Video , retrieved 2016-10-28
  2. ↑ "Theater Mania". theatermania. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
  3. ↑ "The Wake of Dick Johnson -". movies.prettyfamous.com. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
  4. ↑ "Broadway World". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
  5. ↑ "The Wake of Dick Johnson". www.show-score.com. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
  6. ↑ Moran, Pat (13 May 2019). "The Wake of Dick Johnson Pulls Back the Veil". QCNerve. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  7. ↑ Moran, Patrick (31 May 2019). "The Wake of Dick Johnson Pulls Back The Veil". QCNerve. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  8. ↑ Chesanek, Carissa (1 November 2019). "The Wake of Dick Johnson Comes to the East Village". BWW. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  9. ↑ Feldman, Adam (4 October 2019). "Top 13 Halloween Events". Time Out New York. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  10. ↑ News Desk (1 December 2019). "Best of 2019". QCNerve. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  11. ↑ "Walker's Play That Might Make Bukowski Blush". Cultural Attache. 2021-08-10. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  12. ↑ "We Attended The Wake of Dick Johnson". Horror Buzz. 2021-08-11. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  13. ↑ Martinez, Julio. "Interview with Luke H. Walker". KPFK 90.7 FM. Arts in Review. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  14. ↑ Martinez, Julio. "Interview with Luke H. Walker". KPFK 90.7 FM. Arts in Review. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  15. ↑ Harker, Jones (2021-08-11). "The Wake of Dick Johnson Review". Broadway World. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  16. ↑ Kaan, Gil (2021-07-26). "Channeling The Wake of Dick Johnson". Broadway World. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  17. ↑ "THE WAKE OF DICK JOHNSON to Premiere This Summer at Maggie Mae's Whisky Room".
  18. ↑ Chesaneck, Carissa (1 November 2019). "The Wake Opens for Previews". BWW. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  19. ↑ Moran, Patrick (1 May 2019). "The Wake of Dick Johnson". QCNerve. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  20. ↑ Editor, Theater (1 October 2019). "The Wake of DJ". Time Out New York. Retrieved 5 February 2020.{{cite news}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  21. ↑ Feldman, Adam (4 October 2019). "Top 13 Halloween". Time Out. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.