My Enthusiasm For Repertory Theater Has Been Renewed

I don't mind going to see small theater productions featuring friends.  With one memorable exception in Harlem that involved a homeless woman interrupting a performance, I seldom feel the need to encourage other people to attend.  But last night Kelley and I attended a performance put on by The Complete Theater Company that I really enjoyed.

Bob Brown is a friend and former coworker of Kelley's.  She describes him as one of the nicest people she's ever met.  At one point Bob confided in Kelley that he had a dream of trying acting.  Kelley made her living as an actor and comedian for many years, so she was hoping that he would follow his dream.

Through a series of events that she ascribes to fate - and that I think was just dumb luck - Kelley learned Bob was going to be performing this weekend.  So on a cold Saturday night we set out to the Richmond Shepard Theatre to watch The Original One-Act Festival.

The performance was a collection of 6 one-act plays, all of which were surprising creative, interesting, well written.  Despite the fact that each play was only one act, the characters were all developed to the point that I cared as much about them as any character who is developed over the course of 2 hours.  The dialog was smart and funny.  My favorites were "Run. Run. Stop." and "Compass Rose".

And the acting was equally good.  Bob did a great job, as did pretty much every actor.  There was very little of the over-acting or under-acting that I expect when seeing from small productions. 

I'm not a theater connoisour by any stretch, but last night was every bit as entertaining as most of the Broadway plays and musicals I've seen, with a fraction of the expense and hassle.  Unfortunately the last performance of The Original One-Act Festival is happening as I write this, so you won't be able to see it for yourself.  I hope the show was successful.  The people who put it on deserve to be very proud of their work.