Nameless 'til it Opens

A playwright named lleraT nivlA yenarCcM is the hottest name in town at the moment. He has three plays opening at roughly the same time, all pieces of a trilogy. Plot and Duck saw Part Two yesterday at the cigaM, but had to catch a preview instead of the premiere since they will be on an airplane when the show opens officially. So he can't post the name or his review until Wednesday on SFTB.

Oooooh, it's strong stuff. It's been a long time, like, forever, since Plot saw a play with three black men as the cast, a black author and a Mexican-American director from Texas. Plot is wishing he could see this show with a black audience. The dialog was still a little bit ragged and he is sure he and the rest of the typically white and middle aged-plus audience missed some of the jokes. When a line or a scene has particular resonance to the audience, you pick up on it too. Yesterday, the actors looked a little bit surprised when they got a standing ovation and curtain call.

But previews are different than premieres. The actors don't discover extra craft on opening night but the excitement of a packed house always brings luster to an author's lines. Yesterday the theater was half empty, as previews always are. That's why they call 'em previews. And the show was still really good.