Category News & Events

Reviews of my Play “Dr. Quinn”

From the RCReader, Jan 2012: by Thom White

Bad Habits fourth offering is, fortunately, also its funniest, and ends the hour on an up note. Playwright Devin Hansen’s Dr. Quinn follows John Turner’s Mr. Robbins as he undergoes a vasectomy … though it’s unclear why he’s having the procedure, as he admits to not being sexually active, despite having sexual urges evident in Robbins’ physical reaction to Kylie Jansen’s title character, and through a series of fourth-wall-breaking videos that director Chris Jansen inserts throughout the piece. While I’m still uncertain as to why Turner was recorded in a different location for every single one of these (perhaps two dozen) clips, the use of video is an interesting novelty and more amusing, I think, than Turner would be speaking directly to the audience from his bed. And while Hansen’s work is sexually crass, it’s also quite funny, aided by the humor in Turner’s delivery. Hansen also avoids the inclination to create poignancy out of something that’s not poignant, instead leaving us with a lighthearted laugh at the evening’s end.”

My notes: Thanks for the nice review. I will note, I think Thom missed the three or four lines which I talk about the man actually BEING sexually active, albeit with some not-so-attractive partners. Oh well. Glad he liked it anyway.  :)

From QCTimes, David Burke:

The night wraps up with the funniest of the lot, “Dr. Quinn” by Devin Hansen. In it, a man (John Turner) goes to the doctor for a vasectomy only to be turned on by the female surgeon. His thoughts are expressed via video confessions (a la TV’s “The Office”), which technically needed to be quicker on the draw.

Turner has impeccable comedic timing, as does Kylie Jansen, the director’s daughter, who plays the surgeon. As long as you don’t read the bios in the program to find out that she’s a high school junior, there won’t be any creepiness.

My Notes: Kylie did great when I saw her perform this piece back in November. She really makes it funny. Nice job.

And lastly, a review in the Argus/Dispatch by Jonathan Turner:

For me, the best of the bunch were the last two, “Malnati Monday” by Christopher Moss and “Dr. Quinn” by Devin Hansen. They seemed the most real, authentic, affecting and funny, with naturalistic dialogue and characters we can identify with….Another “guy issue” confronts Mr. Robbins (John Turner), the lead character in the queasily amusing “Dr. Quinn.” I have never seen a vasectomy “performed” on stage (and I doubt any previous play has presented one), but the middle-aged man going under the knife of an attractive young female doctor is the trick here.

Mr. Hansen uses video clips throughout of Mr. Turner offering commentary on what he’s really thinking during the awkward procedure. One of the best lines is: “She was easily the most beautiful woman that’s been in that region.” Another zinger: When he asks if the anesthetic is going to hurt, Dr. Quinn (Kylie Jansen) responds, “It’s just a little prick … That never gets old.”

While the childless Mr. Robbins is asked why he’s getting a vasectomy, we don’t get a satisfactory answer. Still, the interplay between patient and doctor (as well as his side thoughts) is witty and compassionate, and Ms. Jansen — a high-school junior — is confident and breezy, easing Mr. Turner’s understandable fears.

My notes: Yeah, he’s right. I never did give a reason for the vasectomy. I couldn’t think of a way to weave any reason in there, other than its just something guys do. But hey, I wrote it in four hours, give me a break. ;)

Thanks for the nice reviews.

My Play Performed Jan 19-Feb5

Dr. Quinn

A short, dark comedy by Devin Hansen

Thu-Sun, Jan 19-Feb 5.

7:30pm Thu-Sat

2:00 Sun

Tix are $18.

Village Theater in the Village of East Davenport.

Across the street from the 11th Street Precinct Pub & Grill.

Article in QCTimes

Article in Dispatch

In November 2011, I wrote “Dr. Quinn” for the Sudden Theater project at New Ground Theater in Davenport, Iowa.

I was given three parameters, or criteria, at 7pm on a Friday, and had to write a play by 7am the next day to be performed that Saturday night!

It was one of the hardest writing projects I’d ever done. I wrote one play — a horror story — but was unhappy with it. So, at 3am I deleted it and started this new one, “Dr. Quinn.”

It was the first time in my 36 years that I stayed up all night. I love my sleep. I NEED my sleep. At 6am with an hour to go, I was so physically ill I vomited and had to swallow five Advil to numb my temples.

Needless to say, when I delivered the script at 7am to the theater, I was extremely nervous. I thought it was crap. The other writers were there drinking coffee and looking quite refreshed. Their scripts were 30 pages long. Mine was 15.

We cast the play with the hodgepodge of actors that showed up, drew the name of a director from a hat, and then watched as they produced our play. Actually, I went right home after the casting and slept.

That night I had a few friends show up, which made me even more scared. Most of my writing takes months or years to finish. I believe in patience. And this was definitely not written with patience. Nor was it the typical theater-fodder. It was about a vasectomy.

But the crowd loved it. They were laughing in all the right places…and not polite laughs. They were genuine. It was one of the best feelings I’ve had. Usually, writers never get to see their audience’s reaction. This was immediate, instant gratification.

Most of it was due to the wonderful actors though. Especially the lead actress, Kylie Jansen. She played the part perfectly.

Now, the New Ground Theater is going to bring it back for a three-week run, as part of their Bad Habits night of short plays. Returning to the lead role is Kylie, and they’ve turned it into a multi-media experience. I live 5 hours away so I won’t be able to be there, but I hope you will support the show.

Here’s a link to the details.

Thanks.