A Series of Unfortunately Belated Theatrical Events
Original, uneven downtown silliness (Is there any other kind?) is reported on too late, sadly

What: Theatre of Science
The Obstruction Plays
Little Building
Location:
The Tank, Galapagos and Theatre for a New City
Date: November through Five Minutes Ago
Cost: $7 - $18
Bohemian Factor: Healthy
Geek Factor: More on stage than in the audience (particularly Theatre of Science)

It is worth reporting on several quirky theatrical events that register a '10' on the shoestring bohemian-meter…even though they all are, sadly, past. (Bad blogger, I!)

Even those immune to the most self-referential, self-indulgent, self- everything tongue in cheek-ness of downtown theatre were bound to get a chuckle out of Nick Jones "Little Building" playing at Galapagos on Friday nights in November. Given that it is impossible to live in the five boroughs and not have a real estate horror story , there is bound to be some scheudenfreude generated by the eponymous Little Building, who self-destructively harbors unrequited love for a real estate maven. The object of her affection eventually succumbs to that personality disorder so rare to his profession: megalomania. Many of Little Building's peers, encased in the garb of fellow architectural structures, warn her against such an imprudent choice of soulmate, and the dialogue takes full advantage of the goofiness of the premise ("Is that all you are? A man container?")

For more of this sort of thing, check out Jollyship the Whizbang web site, another brainchild of Jones and Raja Azar.

Requiring slightly more generosity of patience, the Slant Theatre's Five Obstruction Plays borrows Lars Von Trier's device, by challenging five playwrights to construct short one-acts based on five obstructions, decided upon by other playwrights. The issuers in this case include Lee Blessing, new MacArthur recipient Sarah Ruhl and Naomi Izuka. In contrast to the most restrictive kind of constraints found in the Von Trier movie, these are a little looser in constraints; more akin to a beginner's creative writing exercises. Given its downtown audience and the fact that writers Lisa Kron ("Well" "2.5 Minute Ride") are writing other projects while concurrently tackling their obstruction plays, this is probably a good thing. Though it was a shame that Dan O'Brien cheats a bit when informed by Izuka that his play "must take place in a drawer." Kron fares better, with a charming though feather-light piece, though Marcus Gardley is the first playwright who aspires towards some kind of profundity, despite the inevitable pathos of writing about a California hustler in search of his birth father. But as always, the best is left for last. That the nearly wordless play will be wonderfully weird and not easy to decipher is evident about reading the cast list, Man Holding Diet Coke. (It also has the unfair advantage of being directed by Steve Cosson, the Civilians ringleader) Splendid ensemble work, sexual jealousy, and Cher are all to follow. The author? Mat Smart, the event's impresario.

For more of this sort of thing, check out Slant Theatre Project web site.

Lastly, as proven once again by Sharper Image catalogs and the latest Hugh Jackman movie The Prestige, the pseudo-threatening spectacle of electric currents gone amok always holds infinite commercial appeal. Theatre of Science presenters Simon Singh, a physicist and science writer, and Richard Weisman, a magician and psychologist, have put together a sort of benign collection of parlor tricks. The grand climax are some very noisy six plus foot bolts of lightning generated by two transformer coils, with the perpetual reminders of the destructive potential of such an apparatus (threats that seemed a little melodramatic, given that this had been marketed as a family show). Some general introductions were given to Big Bang Theory, incorporating an endearing example of an incandescent pickle. The show also featured a contortionist, whose physiology-defying feats were both a marvel and an appetite suppressant, for those of us sensitive types who are used to associating the unholy stretching of limbs and joints with dismemberment and accidents (even more intriguing to me was the soundtrack used for this portion of the show, which apparently had been generated, in some way, from MRI machines). There is no effort made to make Big Bang and contortionists cohere; the greater purpose seems to be to instill an appreciation for the showmanship and sensual appeal of scientific inquiry. And it seems to be working: despite the warning's of "Don't try this at home," my companions, two science-minded Columbia grad students enthusiastically reported later that the pickle-igniting feat could be easily replicated within one's own home. Hmm, if only the NIH might begin soliciting grant requests on other matters of vegetable-based radiation…

For more of this sort of thing, check out Science in the City, the webzine of the New York Academy of Sciences, as well as Simon Singh's home page.