Theater in the City: Summer Reruns
with Raven Snook
click to enlarge
- Photo Scott Wynn
Now that summer’s here, everything’s in reruns. Not just TV, but theater, too. And this is a good thing since some of my favorite shows and artists are returning to the stage. Take the swinging Wau Wau Sisters. The funny and flexible siblings, beloved for their dirty ditties, kooky costumes and jaw-dropping trapeze feats, grace the stage for one night as part of Ars Nova’s Thursdays at Ten series (511 W 54th St, June 29). Last time I saw them, the gals did an X-rated acrobatic routine to Night Ranger’s ‘Sister Christian,’ along with other hipster crowd pleasing acts. I’m hoping they’ll take my suggestion and choreograph a number to ‘Dancing in the Sheets.’ With promises of new material, you never know. Shalamar may be on the menu.
Meanwhile my fellow fabulous full-figured diva Elisa DeCarlo is bringing back her award-winning autobiographical solo show, Toasted (The Red Room, 85 E 4th St Third Fl, Saturdays through July 5), which chronicles how she helped bring a father who killed his daughter to justice and the media frenzy that ensued. Although many one-person shows come off as self-indulgent, DeCarlo’s piece is harrowing and hysterical, and rightly reveals as much about her troubled past as it does about the murderer’s. Don’t worry though; she’s not going to hurt you. She may be a killer performer, but she’s not a killer.
Continuing with happy, uplifting theater, Shakespeare is Dead (Paradise Factory, 64 E 4th St, June 21-July 22) concerns a pair of dysfunctional lovers — he’s an alcoholic, she’s a heroin addict — trying to come to terms with their lives after their baby accidentally dies (and you thought you had problems). The show made an impression at last year’s Midtown International Theater Festival and has been revised for this full-blown production. To make things ever creepier, it’s being presented by Tom Noonan. Yup, the serial killer from Manhunter, who also happens to be a respected playwright and theater producer. I’ve always had a little crush on him. (Yes, I have issues. Couldn’t you tell?)
And while I admit I’m stretching my rerun theme with this next one, how can I resist touting a show that bills itself as “a comedy of dentistry and domination with a choose-your-own-adventure twist”? The new interactive sex farce Bite (The Red Room, 85 E 4th St, Fridays through August 25) may be a New York premiere, but its gimmick certainly takes me back in time (to about 1983). And with the audience integrated into the action, you’ll never see the same show twice. So with Bite, there actually aren’t any reruns, ever.
Meanwhile my fellow fabulous full-figured diva Elisa DeCarlo is bringing back her award-winning autobiographical solo show, Toasted (The Red Room, 85 E 4th St Third Fl, Saturdays through July 5), which chronicles how she helped bring a father who killed his daughter to justice and the media frenzy that ensued. Although many one-person shows come off as self-indulgent, DeCarlo’s piece is harrowing and hysterical, and rightly reveals as much about her troubled past as it does about the murderer’s. Don’t worry though; she’s not going to hurt you. She may be a killer performer, but she’s not a killer.
Continuing with happy, uplifting theater, Shakespeare is Dead (Paradise Factory, 64 E 4th St, June 21-July 22) concerns a pair of dysfunctional lovers — he’s an alcoholic, she’s a heroin addict — trying to come to terms with their lives after their baby accidentally dies (and you thought you had problems). The show made an impression at last year’s Midtown International Theater Festival and has been revised for this full-blown production. To make things ever creepier, it’s being presented by Tom Noonan. Yup, the serial killer from Manhunter, who also happens to be a respected playwright and theater producer. I’ve always had a little crush on him. (Yes, I have issues. Couldn’t you tell?)
And while I admit I’m stretching my rerun theme with this next one, how can I resist touting a show that bills itself as “a comedy of dentistry and domination with a choose-your-own-adventure twist”? The new interactive sex farce Bite (The Red Room, 85 E 4th St, Fridays through August 25) may be a New York premiere, but its gimmick certainly takes me back in time (to about 1983). And with the audience integrated into the action, you’ll never see the same show twice. So with Bite, there actually aren’t any reruns, ever.
