Category: the vortex
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“The Talk: A Pep Rally Purity Play” by Grackle Jack
In The Talk, writer and performer Lilly Percifield becomes five different characters in 60 minutes to lead the audience through a rowdy Christian high school pre-dance pep rally. (How does she do it? By owning several wigs and wearing layers and layers of costumes on top of each other.) Percifield’s characters take on cheerleading moves,…
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“Bar(d)” by Walking Shadow Shakespeare Project
Bar(d)‘s tight, clever script by Stephanie Crugnola is both a love letter to Shakespeare and lighthearted goof on him. Shakespeare’s works are given gravitas and honor…and then they’re mocked, because seriously, as the characters at the Butterfly Bar tell each other, there’s no way all of these stories could just wrap up so nicely. Clearly,…
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“Miss Lulu Bett” at Different Stages
Zona Gale’s Miss Lulu Bett was written 100+ years ago, but the script is fresh, rich, and modern. It is maddening and hopeful. It’s been a long time since I have felt such real indignation and frustration for a fictional character. (Maybe since I first read Ella Enchanted 20 years ago?) The brief synopsis from…