Midwest Dramatists Fundraiser

Tonight I attended a fundraiser at the Midwest Dramatists Center at the Writer's Place. I got to see a friend from college, the amazing Bree Elrod, and wrote a very small script that she got to act in. I had no idea that such a group existed to support local playwrights and writers. Currently, they are working on configuring the downstairs into a more workable blackbox space. I would highly consider giving to this organization as part of your end of year giving. For more information on the Midwest Dramatists Center, please visit www.midwestdramatists.org - It was well worth the $30 donation and local theatre lovers should attend if they have another!

Cock - The Unicorn Theatre (the play that must not be named)

This play is hard to explain. (Pun intended). Basically, John has a long term boyfriend, M, and goes out with a woman, W. John is confused about his feelings and sexuality. And M's dad, F, puts in his two cents which doesn't help. All played out without props, just a set laid out like a boxing ring and four actors. 

90 minutes. No intermission. A ding of a bell signaling the next movement. Actors spitting on each other but never touching at all. Circling. Everyone in gray but the love interest in red like a red flag at a bull fight. Amazing. Dizzying. 

The writing in this is like being dropped in the middle of a conversation where you want to interject by yelling at everyone involved. It's beyond snappy. Everyone was brilliant, but Zachary Andrews (M) was something incandescent. He had to be somewhat of a bastard, but likable at the same time. He had to be angry but testy, fed up but not willing to stop. Everything circled around him, and if that actor hadn't been magnificent, this show wouldn't have worked. Everything plays to him. 

John, played by Jacob Aaron Cullum, is written as milk toast, as someone with no spine and no direction. That is difficult to play as an actor without coming across as low energy. It took a while to catch what was happening, and then I saw John with (W) Molly Denninghoff. John was himself. But sweet. Communicative. With new mannerisms but the same confused core. It's easy to downplay Jacob's brilliance in light of Zachary but he did exactly what he needed to do. We hate John because he won't make up his mind. His silence is infuriating. 

The end scene, the farce-like dinner party, is so brilliant. It's written well, and the fight between (F), Matthew Rapport, and (W) Molly Denninghoff is controlled and then on fire. 

The whole show is angry, seething, a bit of sweet, but quite a ride. Not for the faint of heart. Well done. 

I'll Eat You Last - A Chat With Sue Mengers - Unicorn Theatre

I honestly thought I was going to die during this show. Being born in 1977, some of the jokes went over my head, but I was extremely tickled by the audience members who are (just a bit) older than me who were dying. This was a raunchy, completely inappropriate show that I watched on 12/23/2014, two days before Christmas. Nothing feels more naughty than watching something completely inappropriate right before Christmas.

Donna Thomason was amazing.

I've been sick, and I have two plays of my own to finish for my women 365 workshop, so this review is brief. Just go watch it. I have to write plays myself, so I gifted my subscription of Baghdad zoo to 2 of my friends for tonight. We'll see how they enjoy that. Check out the calendar and buy yourself some tickets for this weekend: http://boxoffice.printtixusa.com/unicorntheatre/eventcalendar?v=0&i=0&g=0&g2=0&m=12&y=2014

Spinning Tree Theatre : You're silly if you don't get season tickets

Tonight (or, last night) I had the privilege of seeing my first Spinning Tree production: Ghost Writer.

I'll get you a more detailed review later, but keep your eyes on Michael Grayman and Andy Parkhurst. They're bringing Kansas City three regional premieres this season: Ghost Writer, Violet, Black Pearl Sings and classic musical Fiddler on the Roof. 

Get your tickets now for Ghost Writer at www.spinningtreetheatre.com and purchase season tickets. 

Tomorrow night is a Premiere night for Hands on a Hardbody at The Unicorn. 

Kansas City Theatre Season 2014-2015

This is a great article summing up the upcoming KC season:

http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/performing-arts/article1269746.html