Watch out everybody, Bridget's unleashed for the summer!
Well, you know, that really is an overstatement 'cos I'm not much of a late night gal, but the Gorilla Theatre is dark for the summer (which means we don't have any shows going on and I'm working "normal" hours) so it's time for me to get out more and …. to see theatre in other places. This week I went to an All Out Rep show at the Ritz, I visited Arts on 9th, and went to the 5th Annual Night of Alternative Theatre at American Stage in St. Pete.
Oh, and I welcome all your comments on this blog (like "stop writing about yourself already" or "what's with the strange European punctuation?") so please chip in, loveys!
So, Wednesday evening I had a wonderful time at home (mmm!) … but by Thursday I was stir crazy and headed to Ybor to see All Out Rep's The Agreeable Husband. I love Ami (Sallee Corley) and Shana (Perkins) — the gals behind All Out Rep — so much that I drank four of the Ritz's excellent gin and tonics and felt decidedly Studio 54 (well one DOES, doesn't one, at the Ritz) as I watched some of the best dance you could hope to see. Even the students in the pre-show were astonishingly good (gone are the days when kids like my sister used to sneak out the back door to dance class because it was so nerdy) and the gorgeous Emilia Sargent sang a couple of fabulously smoky and enticing numbers too.
So, after the Agreeable Husband I walked over to see the place into which John Burchett (who I know and admire for his beautiful lighting design and warm flirtiness) has been pouring his time, creativity and, I believe, cash: Arts on 9th. Wow, this is a nice space, directly opposite HCC. They have a photo gallery, a photo studio, a costume shop, and a theatre! They also have a little gift shop with some pretty handmade items in it, and a place where you can buy art supplies. I'm telling all my friends to GO see this exciting new space! The address is 1513 E 9th Ave, Tampa 33605 and their web site is http://www.artson9th.org/ I'm going back there this Thursday to see Bathhouse The Musical in the theatre. Their publicity boasts "New boys in towels" (yes, I know, I probably would have been satisfied with the old boys, but new boys they will be!). Hmm, I wonder what happened to the old boys — gee I hope they didn't shrink or anything…
Anyway, so much for my resolve to spend more time where I might meet straight men… I just can't keep away from the "alternative" scene right now. Let's face it, gay guys really know how to have a good time. Last night I went over to the new American Stage space (oooh, those seats are comfy!) to see the supernaturally funny Matt McGee play Laura Keene in the 5th Annual Night of Alternative Theatre, Prelude to Pride. Now, I've been researching Laura Keene (at the excellent suggestion of Nancy Cole) for a little while. Miss Keene is something of an inspiration for all British actor-manager types, including me — in fact if you compare the pictures of "Miss Keene" (L) and moi (R) you could say they're spookily similar. I just want to say to Matt McGee — THANK YOU! for making me laugh so hard I almost could not see. And to everybody who went to see the show last night — it was wonderful sharing the experience with you.
This article appears in Jun 17-23, 2009.