WHAT'S NEW
August 19: "Kidnapping" nominated for 5 2008 MITF Awards: Outstanding Overall Production of a New Comedy Play Outstanding Playwriting for a New Script Play OR Book of a Musical (Philip Mutz) Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play (Alley Scott) Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play (Chris Critelli) Outstanding Ensemble in a Play (Chris Critelli, Philip Mutz, Alley Scott, and Raisa Ellingson)
June 24: Playbill.com: "Midtown International Theatre Festival to Feature Kidnapping Laura Linney...".
June 6: Three additional showdates added: July 23rd, August 1st, August 2nd.
June 6: Cast Announced: Chris Critelli, Raisa Ellingson, Philip Mutz, Alley Scott cast in "Kidnapping Laura Linney"
June 1: More performance dates to be added and cast to be announced this week!!! Hizzah!
May 10: Tickets are on sale! Click HERE!
April 28: Kidnapping Laura Linney website launched! So welcome! Check back for updates, including upcoming audition info!
April 28: Befriend the Kidnappers! Add us as a friend on myspace.
The Reviews Are In!
nytheatre.com Kidnapping Laura Linney reviewed by Jason S. Grossman Jul 17, 2008 There's an amusing note in the program for Kidnapping Laura Linney, written by Philip Mutz and directed by Nadia Wahhab, that the role of Carla will be played by Scarlett Johansson. That effectively sets the tone for an amusing, relatively light play with a funny cast. Brainy actor/writer Josh and his best friend, perpetual frat boy Steve (also an actor), are stagnant in their lives, watching B movies and getting by thanks to funding from Steve's rich father. When the latter stops the gravy train, the boys need a plan to pay the rent so Josh decides to follow through with a sitcom script which he's been tinkering titled "Kidnapping Laura Linney." The premise of his script centers around a group of co-inhabitants (not unlike themselves) and their plot to kidnap the title character. As Josh goes into overdrive to finish the script, Steve's actress girlfriend Carla wants in with the project and is suddenly titillated by Josh's ambition. Soon all three are on set taping an episode of Josh's sitcom with another actor, Trisha. All seems well until Steve witnesses Josh and Carla kissing and quietly grows jealous. And when Laura Linney objects to the sitcom with her name, our heroes plot their revenge. Mutz's script doesn't waste time, and it's clear that he is not taking anything too seriously here. His characters are nicely drawn with flaws that are relatively non-threatening and humorous more than anything. Mutz shows a knack for the funny callback with his characters whether it be Steve's conceit or Carla's neediness. Because this a story within a story, he has the opportunity to poke fun at his own writing, which makes it all the more enjoyable. There are extended segments of funny exchanges (for example, when Josh and Steve are discussing whether the premise for their sitcom is a viable one). There are quantum leaps of reality (e.g., having a pilot sitcom script picked up a television network and having your friends star in that sitcom), and some of the plotting seems forced. This isn't troubling, because the play isn't so much about the obsessed pursuit of fame as it seems to be about friendship. Indeed, at one point Josh explains to Steve that kidnapping Laura Linney is merely a disposable plot device. The casual tone of the script allows for these leaps of reality—but when the story veers into a love triangle, it is possibly too casual. Director Nadia Wahhab does a good job not getting in the way of the script, creating very basic blocking and some very funny instances of physical comedy in a very limited playing area [the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre]. There's even a klutzy slapstick fight executed well in the space. Chris Critelli has a very comfortable grasp of the character Steve. He plays the good buddy extremely well, large on beer drinking but limited on maturity and emotional development. Mutz has a nice deadpan presence as Josh. Alley Scott is very strong as the fickle Carla. She is all at once charming, vexing, and alluring. Raisa Ellingson has limited duty as Trisha, the other actor in the sitcom. Her character's primary purpose is essentially to allow Carla to ruin the taping of the sitcom episode. Considering the space and budget, the production economically uses its resources. Ben Horner is effective but somewhat sloppy with his sound design that comes into play most significantly during the sitcom taping sequence. Mutz did his own set design which is an ode to bachelorhood and a nod to Oscar Madison's room in The Odd Couple. Mutz takes advantage of the world he creates, inserting himself in the role of writer/mover/shaker, going from 0 to 60 in nanoseconds and becoming the breadwinner on a minute's notice. This is his first full length play to be produced, and he shows a lot of promise for writing three dimensional characters and witty dialogue. His future success may not be such a leap in reality.
Backstage Kidnapping Laura Linney July 17, 2008 By Mark Peikert Philip Mutz's Kidnapping Laura Linney is exactly the type of fluffy fun one always hopes to find in festivals but so rarely does. After struggling actor-writer Josh (Mutz) writes a sitcom about two regular Joes whose hobbies include plotting the kidnapping of Laura Linney, he, his roommate Steve (Chris Critelli), and Steve's girlfriend Carla (Alley Scott) all head west to become huge TV stars. But Linney and her lawyers aren't amused, and so Josh decides to kidnap the Oscar nominee for real. It's all silly, non sequitur-laden fun, particularly the impromptu sing-along to "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid — though the glimpse we get of Josh's sitcom does make us wonder how it could have possibly been picked up, at least until an NBC letterhead is flashed. Mutz and Critelli have a refreshingly genuine rapport as friends and roommates, and the Laura-themed songs between scenes are inspired. One hopes the real Laura Linney will find herself charmed, not litigious.
"Funnier than when your Uncle Jack made you pull his finger." -Janice Field (Uncle Jack's Wife) "This show is so funny you'll poop yourself!" -Tommy (Brussels Preschool Student) "Laura Linney for President... of the world!" - Bora Binney (Laura Linney impersonator)