"I Got Guns"

Theatre director Daniel Stone is currently in the process of writing his next original play, entitled “I Got Guns”, which will be performed locally and at the San Diego International Fringe Festival in June.

Made up of an ensemble cast of both students and members of the local community, “I Got Guns” will be a Commedia dell’arte, an Italian performance art identified by its use of slapstick humor and improvisation.

“Imagine Bugs Bunny cartoons on stage,” said Stone. “It’s a satirical farce, filled with stock characters wearing masks. It’s very fun.”

Though Commedia dell’arte is known for its embrace of wackiness, Stone is using the technique as a way to tackle a very high profile and serious topic, gun policy in America.

“I’m a true believer that sometimes we have to laugh at some of these things,” said Stone, “Comedy can be a very powerful tool for communicating, while a serious drama about a serious issue can turn people off. If you can make people laugh, then they’ll get it. They’ll understand.”

Stone has cited the films of Mel Brooks, specifically Blazing Saddles, as an example of what type of tone he is hoping to achieve.

“In his films, Mel Brooks is always making fun of racism, he’s making fun of Nazis, and in a very satirical way. He’s taking serious issues and turning them into comedies, which can be even more powerful.”

“I Got Guns” will be produced by Sanctuary Stage, LBCC’s own community engaged theatre headed by both Stone and Tinamarie Ivey. Sanctuary Stage’s previous work has been heavily focused on the representation of micro-communities that exist inside a population. This includes their latest finished production, “Un Carol de Independence”, a story about the lives and experiences of a Latino family living in Independence, Ore.

“’I Got Guns’ will be different. It’s focused on a broader issue of guns, rather than a narrow look at any specific micro-community,” said Stone.

Stone’s inspiration for writing a play on gun policy was the result of the continuous coverage the subject has been receiving recently.

“You just have to turn on the news, or read the paper, and there’s guns. It’s a topical issue.”

“‘I Got Guns’ will be a very dark comedy, and we might offend some people, but were not going to leave anybody out. It won’t be focused on the people who are anti-gun, or people who are pro-gun. We aren't going to be preachy."

"I’m very moderate, I really stay in the middle.”


Dan Stone
San Diego Fringe Festival
"I Got Guns"
Late July
For Information:
dan.stone@linnbenton.edu
541-917-4566