That doesn't sound right, does it?  No - it wasn't some strange St. Patty's day ritual.  No - I wasn't holed up in some restroom hurling green beer after a night of revelry and merriment.  I can explain myself...in a minute.

I had jammed packed Monday evening.  First stop, a reading of a new play at Second Stage Company.  The play was called Brandy Bean's Big Break and it was written by a new up and coming playwright named Josh Tobiessen.  His play, Election Day was presented by Second Stage (currently producing the new musical Next to Normal) this past summer.  The reading was packed with industry insiders and artists.  I ran into Nicole Lowrance.  Nicole is a fantastic actress who recently starred in Horton Foote's latest play Dividing the Estate (at Primary Stages).  She told us that the play is definitely headed to the Broadway in the Fall (woo hoo). 

Back to the reading -  it was a hysterical.  Brandy Bean's Big Break is about a girl named Brandy who lives in a small town and gets her big break by being cast on a new reality television show called "Celebrity Friend".  Tons of funny and crazy stuff happen on her way as she travels across country to Hollywood in hopes of becoming a big star.  The piece was packed with laughs (delivered by a STELLAR cast) and I hope Second Stage (or anyone else) will soon be producing the show!

Explanation of Toda's Headline

It was 8:30pm and most normal people would have considered one reading enough theater for the night. Oh, no - not me.  I had one more stop before I headed to the pub for a glass of green beer and an Irish Jig.  I was headed to Central Park to see a new play called Ladies and Gents written and directed by Paul Walker. I told you a little bit about this yesterday; the play is an Irish noir thriller and it is performing in the toilets at the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park (now the headline makes sense).  It was not your typical theater going experience, but it was somehow very fitting for St. Patrick's Day.

After a festive ride on the subway uptown (I always forget what a "jovial" holiday St. Patty's is - it just never enters my mind to get dressed entirely in green, wear a shamrock tattoo, a gigantic green top hat and get totally drunk, but at least 15 people on my subway car had that very idea!)  I got of the subway and I met my theater companions for the performance at the entrance to Central Park at 72nd and Central Park West.  After picking up our tickets we headed into the park.  Now, I don't usually like to traipse through the park at 9:00pm at night, but I felt like it was going to be ok.  We made our way to the fountain and found the temporary "theater". 

Huddled in the cold we waited for the show to begin.  Then we were asked to move into position.  An Irish Gentleman began instructing us on how the evening would proceed.  We were split into two groups (they gave us black and white laminated cards to notify us which group we were in).  One group went into the Ladies room and one group went into the Men's room (thus the name of the play Ladies and Gents). I would see the play in the Ladies' room first.  I was ushered to my own space in the restroom and watched the show in front of me.  I mean, right in front of me - like ONE inch away...I was definitely IN the action.  Then, when the first show concluded, we scooted over to Gent's room to see the second half of the play.  I had an even better view for this one.  I was literally in the play.  A scene took place on either side of my nose and one actor leaned into me on a few occasions.  It doesn't get any closer than that folks!

The play itself is a noir thriller set in public restrooms in Dublin in 1957.  The fun of the piece, aside from the site specific location, is that the two plays join together to complete one narrative, but you can see either the Ladies side first or the Gents side first and it still makes complete sense (but makes for two different experiences).  It is a very clever and well done evening and the cast is EXCELLENT.  The play runs through March 29th and performs several times during an evening (the whole thing is less than an hour).  One very important note - the bathrooms are heated.  While it was very cold outside, I was quite comfortable watching the plays.  You can get tickets and info for Ladies and Gents by clicking HERE.

After the show I headed downtown to see a performance of...just kidding - I think that was enough theater for one night.  We jumped in a cab and shot home.  It had been a long and interesting St. Patty's day.  I hope you had an equally fun night.  Until tomorrow, I will...

~ See You On The Aisle