What’s better than Varsano‘s dark chocolate? Not a whole lot. But, I have a feeling that The Bridge Theatre Company‘s Summer Reading Series may be a contender. I saw last week’s brilliant reading of David Caudle’s brilliant play Damsel directed by brilliant Jenn Thompson with a stellar cast. It simply was one of the best readings I’ve seen in 2 years.
I thoroughly expect great things from the company’s next reading — Kate Hewlett‘s Swearing Jar, directed by Rosemary Andress, one of the best directors today. She helmed the lauded Universal Robots earlier this year. Kate is a kinda Canadian Bekah Brunstetter, but that doesn’t do either of the women justice. I had the great joy to work on Kate’s award-winning Humans Anonymous two years ago, and I’m extremely indebted to that production because it’s the reason Rosemary directed Universal Robots in the first place.
You see back in 2007, there was a Broadway stagehand strike. Rosemary and her out-of-town friend desperately wanted to see a show, and randomly selected Humans Anonymous because (a) it sounded good and (b) it was in the theater district. At the performance, she ran into her old friend Ridley Parson, who was there to see Esther Barlow, his castmate in the July 2007 workshop production of Universal Robots and Humans Anonymous star. He mentioned to Rosemary that he’d just finished up UR, a loose adaptation of R.U.R. Rosemary gushed that R.U.R. is her favorite play, and mentioned that if UR was ever to be remounted, keep in her mind to direct. The rest is history. It’s a circuitous world, isn’t it?
Now, here are the details on the Swearing Jar reading. Did I mention it’s free?
THE SWEARING JAR
By Kate Hewlett
Directed by Rosemary Andress
SUNDAY, August 9th 2009
2:00pm ~ PENTHOUSE 2
Shetler Studios, 244 W. 54th St, 12th fl.
“You are the love of my life, you asshole.” Simon and Carey are the perfect couple. But when Carey performs at Simon’s fortieth birthday celebration, she is forced to come to terms with the greatest lie her husband ever told. From the writer of Humans Anonymous comes a smart new comedy about marriage, music, migraines…and swearing.
Please join us for the second in an exciting series of summer readings programmed by our fabulous Head of New Play Development, Joe Tracz!
Admission is FREE! ~ no reservations necessary.
