Thursday, December 6, 2007

Let’s talk about sex (and death)

Fifth annual pageant offers fast and furious run of more than a dozen short plays for ‘dead week’

by Joel Pierson, The Scene

Bloomington Playwrights Project presents its quickie round of plays for “Sex/Death V.” Courtesy photo

When people speak of the inevitable, they often mention death and taxes. But if popular culture has taught us anything, it is that the two inevitables are really sex and death. In tribute, the Bloomington Playwrights Project presents its fifth annual pageant honoring the two, “Sex/Death V.” As part of the Dark Alley series of late-night fare, they will present 14 ultra-short stories about one (or both) of the topics in question.

The event used to feature fewer, longer pieces, but in the spirit of the BPP’s Blizzard shows, producer Gabe Gloden told The Scene, “This year we shortened the length of each play and increased the overall number of plays. We’re hoping that this will help keep the pace of the show fast and furious. We want audiences to walk away from the experience with a series of memorable moments that they can relate to each other after the show. ‘Oh, remember when the priest did that?’ ‘And when his wife did this?’”

Gloden and company want “Sex/Death V” to be entertaining, and a little bit dirty, “but we also hope that the plays offer some interesting commentary on contemporary sexual mores and how we deal with death.”

Playwrights for the production include Jae Kramisen, Matthew Haldeman, Corrine Kawecki, Rich Orloff, Nicholas Moore, Monica Bauer, Nile Arena, Ruth Aaron Grove, Henry Meyerson, Julianne Homokay, Latrisse Goffigan, Doug Bedwell, Holly McClane and Jon Busch. A quick check of the roster shows — impressively — that male and female writers are equally represented. Fair and balanced is always a good thing in society.

In its press materials, the BPP waxes poetic about the show, in a moment of nearly necrophiliac name-dropping, when they claim that the show provides “the adventurous theater-goer with a visceral rush that would make Alfred Kinsey blush.” Troublesome biology aside, with plays ranging from three to five minutes, it’s safe to say that many of the erotic pieces will include an element of humor, rather than anything overtly pornographic.

Even the show’s schedule is unconventional. The escapist fare is scheduled for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights during the last week of Indiana University classes and finals week. Something a little primal to get away from the stresses of academia.

• WHAT: Bloomington Playwrights Project’s “Sex/Death V”

• WHEN: 10 p.m. Monday-Wednesday

• WHERE: BPP, 107 W. Ninth St.

• TICKETS: $5 at the door.

• INFO: Call 334-1188 or e-mail bppwrite@newplays.org.

• NOTE: Recommended for adults only.

• posted by admin   |   filed under fine arts   |  
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