The Playmakers decided to take a risk this summer and present a show unlike most they have done in the past 20 years. “30 Neo-Futurist Plays from “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (30 Plays in 60 Minutes)” is anything but your typical theatre-going experience. The plays are part of popular, long-standing theatre productions in Chicago, NYC, and San Francisco. Here’s a crash course on what to expect when The Playmakers open this summer fare on July 11 at 121 W. 3rd Street in Grove, Ok.
Audience members will be assailed with a random display of tragic, comic, personal, political and experimental plays over the course of an hour or so. Audience members get to pick the order in which the 30 short plays will be performed. This means that the cast & crew will never do the 30 plays in the same order over the eight performances. Ad-libs from the lighting and sound men may be the rule rather than the exception, since there is no way they can program their charts in a logical order. It might be worth the price of a ticket just to watch cast and crew find the play and get set up (most have to be in Readers’ Theatre format because of the variety and speed). Each play is then timed when “go” is called. Every now and then an audience member can participate with the cast if they want to.
Speaking of the price of a ticket, there is a base price of $5, then you roll the dice for the remaining amount. (Maximum ticket price, $15.)
There is pre-show fun as well, beginning at 8:30 pm on performance nights: games to play, cast and crew to hang out with, and food and soft drinks. There will be free hotdogs on opening night, so reserve your seats early. The pre-show will last for about forty-five minutes or less, depending upon the fun the audience is having. An after-show dance will be offered till midnight for those who want to complete an evening of fun.
The short, short plays range from cringe comedy, screwball, slapstick, to absurd, goofy and just plain “Monty Python” silly. “It’s Fun, Pure Entertainment,” says director, Suzanne Boles. “If you are quick you might see a bit of “Dr. Strangelove” and certainly The Three Stooges. Some plays will remind you of “Laugh In,” or “Saturday Night Live,” or late night comedy and even some sketches and sitcoms on TV comedy channels. If you don’t think one play is funny, just wait a minute. There are some edgy parts, so be advised, but all swear words have been humorously altered,” adds Ms. Boles.
It will be performed for audiences, mid-school and above, with energy, creativity and conviction by Justus Fletcher, Hailey Hunter, Randall Hendricks, Caleb Haidsiak, Dodi Manley, Jaxson Oakley, and Meisha Vigil.
The show runs on Friday and Saturday nights, July 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31, and August 1. There is one Thursday night performance on July 23. All shows will have a summer-time start, beginning at 8:30 with time to meet, eat, and greet during the pre-show activities.
Reservations are encouraged. Call 918-786-8950 or email: groveplaymakers@yahoo.com. Watch the ‘Grove Playmakers Theatre’ on Facebook for updates on rehearsals, cast, crew and other entertaining postings. ‘Like’ the page and re-post to your friends, please.
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