(Community Matters) Last night saw a promenade theatre performance, Stovepipe, a new play by Adam Brace produced by the Bush Theatre Company (no relation!) in partnership with the Royal National Theatre.
Tom Stoppard called it one of the best promenade dramas he’s ever seen, “truly effective and illuminating.” The Daily Telegraph, “the most exciting theatrical thriller in town. A thrilling tour de force and a new cult hit in the making.”
The play is about private security companies taking on protection roles in Iraq (a la Blackwater and Erik Price), a mercenary who goes missing in Aman Jordan, and the bonds between the men who sell their lives for $600 per day and work 24/7.
The audience is ushered between scenes into different sets in the same building. Not quite the tour of 5-star bars, seedy brothels and war-torn desert landscapes promised, but it was engaging, at times riveting and definitely experiential. Steven loved it. I liked it; expected to know the characters more intimately and to be allowed to fill-in some of the story’s narrative. The five actors do a super job playing all the play’s characters. It has become my expectation of promenade performances to participate in the creative process. I’ve been spoiled by Punchdrunk I suppose. Nevertheless, I’d recommend the show, not just sure I’d fly over the Atlantic to see it – as is absolutely true for any Punchdrunk performance.
We have another show tonight, and Steven has another business trip here in May. Marfa’s Tim Crowley & Chinati’s Rob Weiner are opening a Wallace Shawn play here in June, shouldn’t miss that – we’ll have to wait and see.
Off to the Darwin exhibit and to lunch with a goddaughter.
Community Matters 