Pink Banana Theatre’s Program of One-Acts
Pink Banana is something
of an older sibling to younger Milwaukee
theater companies, having featured many people who have gone on to found other
theater groups. For example, actor and Youngblood co-founder Michael Cotey had
one of his first directorial experiences with a Pink Banana short. This year’s
one-act program is no exception, and provides a couple of actors with some
interesting directing opportunities.
Jason Waszak, currently
appearing in the comedy Bye Bye Liver
at Mi-Key’s, directs Bethany Ligocki and newcomer Jose Rodriguez in Romantic Chemistry, my entry into this
year’s program. It’s the story of two people and their chemical baggage on a
date. In Patrik Beck’s Pecking Order,
talented comic actor Nick Firer directs and acts, appearing as a manager in a
play described as “business as usual.”
The program also
includes works by Boston’s Martha Patterson, Sheboygan’s Lisa Golda
and Whitewater native Neil Haven, who is best known for his feature-length
works Stuck and Who Killed Santa?
Newer actors will mix
with established talent, including frequent Wisconsin Hybrid Theater performer
Randall T. Anderson and Vince Figueroa of the local sketch comedy group
Meanwhile. Figueroa also wrote the comedy 8-Bit
Warrior.
There’s a distinct charm
to watching eight short productions in a single evening. Seeing largely
untested talent producing plays on a small stage offers a different kind of
theater experience—a patchwork feel that is more restless and dynamic than that
of traditional feature-length programs.
Pink Banana Theatre’s Sex, Drugs and the American Way runs May 21 through June
5 at the Off-Broadway Theatre.
Also opening this weekend is SoulsticeTheatre’s production of Love Song, John Kolvenbach’s offbeat romantic comedy. A man falls in love with a woman who breaks into his home. The romance hits the intimate stage at the Marian Center for Nonprofits through June 5.
The show takes place at the Off Broadway Theatre (342 N. Water Street) as mentioned in the final paragraph, not the Broadway Studio Theatre as mentioned at the top of the article.
I liked Pink Banana's idea the first time, when it was called Combat Theater. I think it's great that the Milwaukee theater community is growing; it was a far too shallow pool just a few years ago. What's not so great is how everyone single new writer, actor, and director is being showered with accolades formerly reserved for those actually deserving of those accolades. It's hard for me to distinguish between those that are "good" and those that are good, if you catch my drift. I think we need to all calm down with the superlatives for a bit and let the wheat seperate from the chaff on it's own.
@meepos: I couldn't agree with you more if I tried. You are absolutely right on.