Re: RAT: What's on in AUSTIN

[Robert Faires <onstage@auschron.com>]

>Hey,
>
>My name is Mark Savage, I'm an LA playwright, and I'm going to be in
>Austin, TX this weekend. I'm wondering what's on that I should see...
>
>Any suggestions?
>
>If it's still going on, DEFINITELY check out Salvage Vanguard's new
>production, DIRIGIBLE!! - Jason, care to give a shameless self-promotion with
>the details?

Alas, DIRIGIBLE closed last weekend, although a notice by my colleague at
the Austin daily paper suggests it may be revived some time this summer.

This is an uncharacteristically weak week for new scripts locally; on
average, one in every four plays produced in Austin is an original, but
this weekend the only locally written works on tap are the stage play GOOD
GRIEF, a domestic drama by former WNBA star Fran Harris (no lie), and the
sketch comedy shows by the Latino Comedy Project and local nouveau
vaudeville legend Esther's Follies, both of which are good for a laugh or
several.

Glancing over the theatre listings for this weekend, it looks like classics
run wild:Strindberg, Moliere,  Lorca, Williams, Shakespeare, ... Based on
what I know of the companies and the local buzz, I'd suggest: BLOOD
WEDDING, staged at The Public Domain (HQ for the Austin RATRave) with some
non-traditional elements and some fine local actors; THE WINTER'S TALE,
staged at the UT Department of Theatre & Dance with their typical grand
resources; THE SOLDIER DREAMS, one of the few modern pieces running this
week (it's by Canadian playwright Daniel McIvor) and staged by Subterranean
Theatre Company with a strong cast; and, if I may be so bold, TWELFTH
NIGHT, a Big Cheap six-actor version that I've staged and am performing in
at Planet Theatre (one of Rob Nash's favorite stomping grounds) and which
has garnered some really lovely praise from folks in town.

Of course, maybe the best "show" in town this weekend will be SPAMARAMA, a
goof on chili cook-offs that has been going on here for more than 20 years.
People cook SPAM, toss SPAM, and just generally abuse SPAM, while in
costumes, with song, with dance ... It's street theatre for non-theatre
people, with people basically creating their own personal little
mini-productions around the potted pork product. One of the city's goofiest
and more endearing traditions.

Don't know if you're looking to connect with any Austin playwrights while
you're here, Mark, but if you are I'd be happy to hook you up with names,
phone numbers, e-mail addresses, etc., and make any introductions I can.

Enjoy your visit,
Robert Faires
Austin, Texas