|
Lesbians, humor and David Mamet |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Written by Rebecca LaPole
|
|
Thursday, 01 February 2007 |
|
|
|
|
With alternative marriages at the forefront of political debate in our culture, David Mamet’s play, “Boston Marriage,” examines a same-sex relationship from the past with the biting humor he is famous for.
The intimate Armstrong Hotel Ballroom puts you right in the living room of OpenStage Theatre Co.’s newest attraction.
The title, “Boston Marriage,” was the Victorian-era term for a long-term relationship between women who live together. In 2004, Boston became the only major city where same-sex marriages are legal, giving the term another connotation in the present day.
Julie K. Wolf plays Anna, and Cara Buckley plays Claire. They represent the lesbian bond in the 19th century, and they show how their relationship can digress just like any other.
Catherine, played by Sydney Parks, is “Anna’s ditsy Scottish maid,” and is there for comedic relief, almost like a jester.
“They are caustic characters who say things that we all think but don’t say. It’s very funny and sarcastic. For me it’s a guilty pleasure to read just because it’s so dirty! On stage it’s like watching a verbal boxing match.”
Director Matthew G. Smith agrees with Parks. “My favorite part of the show is the language,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of double-entendre and so much super funny stuff. It’s amazing and is three, four and five layers deep.”
As for Parks’ character, Catherine, she described her: “She’s very slapstick, and constantly gets verbally abused. She says things that are sexually explicit without realizing it, like when she’s talking about parts of a stove. And there’s a whole part about a (hand) muff that is just really funny.”
Although the stage is set with simple Victorian furniture and props, the language is a bit more up-to-date.
It’s “a modern take on classical construction of a period piece. It’s very artistic and just an awesome take on Victorian themes,” Smith said.
With jokes galore and witty banter moving the play along at a rapid pace, Parks thinks everyone will find humor in the vulgarity.
“It’s a night of sheer entertainment,” she said. “It’s great to escape and laugh for an hour and a half every once in awhile, and this is perfect for that.”
——
TO GO TO THE SHOW
• “Boston Marriage”
• showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights Feb. 2-17 and 2 p.m. Feb. 18
• Armstrong Hotel, third-floor ballroom, 259 S. College Ave, Fort Collins
• $10 , at www.fctix.com or 484.5237
• more information: www.openstage.com | Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. |
|
|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
| |
|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
|  | over and out | |
| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
|
|
