We'd intended to go on Sunday, but the combination of "Fool for Love" & "Rampart" proved too depressing.
So we're trying again. The boy's informed me that the crew of this play overlaps the crew of one he's involved with at school, and so there are some political points to be gained. We're early, outside the theatre, it's a contrast in neighborhoods - across the street are luxury condos, on this side of the street a mostly vacant lot with the wreck of a church passing for the theatre.
A few trees, neon pink condoms scattered around the trunk, "Look for rocks of crack cocaine" I tell the boy, it's that sort of area, shingles from the roof of the church litter the ground, props - an old guillotine? stand outside it, cigarette butts, a broken fence, this is why I like theatre folk, they subscribe to similar ideals of housekeeping.
We're early, the only ones there, the front door is locked and I'm beginning to doubt if there's even a play, maybe I got my dates wrong?
We wait, eventually the door is opened at 7:45, other theatre goers show up.
Inside, the theatre resembles nothing so much as a charity bazaar, piles of clothing and props poorly concealed with blankets and drapes, a few - perhaps 50 - folding chairs, small stage. It's good in it's way, but it must be hell to keep warm in the winter, the boy tells me that apparently they're being moved...
The Play, combination of mixed media, live actors and puppetry, centering in an abstract way upon a young girl in the 40's (50's?) whose life is torn apart by an Atom Bomb and the death of her mother. Projected imagery culled from pop-culture classics, "duck and cover" videos, it's all in all a worthwhile trip to the theatre. Short, running at about 70 minutes, and "pay what you can" pricing, which seemed to be a big lure with much of the audience. Local theatre worth supporting.
Link: Greenfools Theatre