Man-erole (Man Casserole)
Are you familiar with the recipe for “Man-erole”? Who eats this exactly? Someone who says “Get ‘er done” and means it? Metrosexuals, stay-home dads, dads who change diapers and drive carpool and, perhaps, even help pick out paint colors or cook meals … don’t have a prayer at resetting perceptions of (straight) masculinity when cards … Read more
“A Gay” in Every Play ?
“A Gay” in Every Play “? It feels like every play (and film) I see these days has a gay or a lesbian character. And this is not counting the Shakespeare productions that camp up or make effete a clown or a fool. I am trying to decide if this is cause for celebration–because it … Read more
The Cult of Sarah Kane
The Cult of Sarah Kane (1971-1999) Sarah Kane has become to the theatre world what Ian Curtis of Joy Division has long been to the alternative music world: a beloved cult icon. Their darkly inspired works remain as dark and inspiring today as they did when they were first created. Both Kane and Curtis … Read more
‘Tis the Season for “A Doll’s House” at Dramaworks (Review)
‘Tis the Season for “A Doll’s House” at Dramaworks (Review) ‘Tis the season for A Doll’s House, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen’s classic portrait of nineteenth century marriage and gender roles that unfolds on Christmas Eve and Christmas day in 1879, also the year in which it was written and first staged. The title’s significance, broached by Nora … Read more
Colon Blow, Rebeck’s “Bad Dates” gets bad reviews, “Doll’s House.”
Colon Blow My sister was diagnosed with end-stage colon cancer at age 42; she was a slim non-smoker with no family history. Colon cancer is no longer just a geriatric disease! Ginger endured countless surgeries and chemo regimens before succumbing to the illness last October. I don’t know how she fought so hard for 5 … Read more
Ode to Flatulence
Ode to Flatulence This is TMI for most of my readers. But c’est la vie. This is my blog. I’ve spent this day fasting and drinking miralax and …yeah… anyway… in preparation for my first colonoscopy. This past October 20th marked the one year anniversary of my sister’s death from colon cancer, and she would … Read more
Theresa Rebeck’s “Bad Dates”
Theresa Rebeck’s Bad Dates A bad date would probably have been less painful, and certainly more dramatic, than sitting through the current Stageworks production of Rebeck’s one-woman show, Bad Dates, which opened this past Thursday and runs through December 6th at the Shimberg Playhouse at the Straz Center (formerly Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center). In spite … Read more
Aphra Behn’s The Dutch Lover: A Comedy
Aphra Behn’s The Dutch Lover: A Comedy 3 down, 15 to go. As Liz Duffy’s Or, now playing at Women’s Project in NYC, continues to endear itself to audiences, I continue to plug through the 18 plays written by Duffy’s central heroine–Restoration playwright Aphra Behn. Premiere and Publication The Dutch Lover, Behn’s third play, was … Read more
It’s A Girl ! ?
It’s A Girl ! ? In a post last week (“Sexism in the Industry“), I put up some quotes from Marsha Norman’s recent article in American Theatre on gender inequality in the industry. One particular line by Norman has gotten stuck in my head: “There’s no so such thing as a girl play.” It is not uncommon … Read more
