Can you believe that before tonight's performance of Fresh Ink Theatre's "Priscilla Dreams the Answer" I had never seen a full production at the Factory Theatre? It's bizarre to think I still haven't done a show there, since it's where so many of the fringe groups in Boston regularly perform and I am at this point a member of the fringe theatre community, so what's up with that? One excuse is that I'm yet to be cast in a show at the Factory, but that doesn't explain why I've never seen a show there. Oh well, that's just because I'm lazy. But I'm working on that!
So anyway, I thought maybe it would be nice to see Priscilla Dreams the Answer, it would fulfill my weekly play quota and I'd be supporting a new company. It wasn't really cinched though until I saw it had a write up in the review throughly applauding the production at which point I was like "shit well fine I'll buy tickets for Saturday" which I did and subsequently, this evening, I lost my factory virginity. Mind you I've been in the space once or twice before, and I'd always kind of wondered "how do you stage something in here?" The answer, like that, and I didn't even have to dream it!
BUT SERIOUSLY FOLKS, what did I think of the play? I liked it a lot. One thing which annoyed me was my own fault which was choice of seating, directly parallel with the couch where a bunch of the action took place, particularly a few key scenes, left me cut from the actors but that's just an issue of the cramped space and not anybody's fault. Overall I thought the real hero of the piece was the direction, which was very strong throughout. The director, who's name escapes me and because I'm not a professional reviewer I don't feel obligated to look it up, really nailed the pacing and tone of the script so that interconnectedness of the characters and the absurdity and universality of their situations shone through beautifully. Various moments, in particular the various dream sequences, were also just beautifully staged. The acting likewise was top notch, the ensemble really came together, even if at first the guy with the beard's wacky hobby shop owner didn't convince me at first by the end I was fucking sold. And oh man, that ending. Given the content of the script, which to me was fun and insightful and quirky and everything, but not really new or a revelation, shouldn't have gone off that successfully. But man, something about that ending just punched me right in the gut, just that last moment with the two of them asleep, something about that moment just brought a little tear towards my eye but not all the way out. Making my way through the piece, I was thinking "this is really funny and interesting, am I going to get some of that heavy duty you-only-get-this-in-theatre catharsis we're always looking for? Yeah I did, I have to say. I did. And for that the production receives my applause.
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