Birds, Bees, and Theatre

Okay, the whole post is not about this first unseemly topic. An interesting and vaugely (pointedly) embarassing thing is that I learned what a prostate is yesterday. Yup, I actually didn't know. I thought it had something to do with the bum. I thought Katie Couric had one. So in the course of a colloquial blue line conversation with Brian and my medically inclined cousin Ryan, I learned tons about manparts. So, there's that.

Anyway, and less awkwardly, I've had to read lots of contemporary plays for my work recently and it's been super fun. I kind of can't believe that I'm getting paid to sit here and do something that I'd do with my free time (if I didn't own a TV and was better motivated). For those who read/see/love plays, my top three so far. Tell me if you've read them and what you thought!

1. Shining City by Conor McPherson
Dublin, secrets, ghosts, the deterioration of a marriage, therapy, good stuff. The ending moment of this play --just reading it--gave me an unbelievable shiver.




2. Faith Healer by Brian Friel
Tragic Irish folk, do you see a pattern? Three characters, three points of view on the life of a traveling "faith healer", his partner, and his manager. Beautiful dialog, patient and very sad. Love it.






3. The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl
This is not Irish! In fact it opens with a joke told entirely in Portuguese. It's a "comedy", or so it says, but there's a lot more to it than that. This one is a little difficult to encapsulate, but it revolves around a housekeeper who is depressed by cleaning -- and it takes off from there. Super lively, uncommon staging and reality choices, a touch of the old magical realism...I'd absolutely love to see this performed someplace.

I never see enough theatre. That should have been a new year's resolution probably, but screw it now, right? Kidding. I barely even get to see any improv outside of the shows that I'm in at IA (Improv Asylum). I'm dying to have some time to go and explore some stuff that's happening out there. Improv Boston is putting together their new place in Central Square, and all reports say that it's pretty awesome. I can't wait to see it!