MCB checked out Thursday’s opening night performances of the 2010 Heck-Rabi Playwright Competition at Wayne State University’s Hillberry Studio Theatre and there was much to like. Three, award-winning, student-produced plays provided a great evening of cheap ($5), laugh-inducing, thought-provoking entertainment.Here’s a little tease:
Easy As Hard Can Be, by Alan Ball (Natick, Ma.), directed by Marius Iliescu (Ann Arbor, Mi.).
A terminal, red-blooded codger contemplates life, death and transforms from his experience at the hospital. Great characters. Witty dialogue—“Your incorrigible.” “Don’t encourage me.” Funny and touching.
Furnishings, by Gregory Bailey (Vista, Ca.), directed by Katie Lietz Flannery (Livonia, Mi.) Parents cope with the frustration of raising a severely special needs child. Impressive physical performance.
All Kinds of Men, by Erman Jones (Oakley, Id.), directed by Alexandre Bleau (Montreal, Quebec, Canada). Dominatrix has some tricks up her…bustier. Good spankings, great props and a hilarious, unexpected story arc. This one took 1st place in the competition for good reason. You can catch the show again this Saturday (March 27) or next weekend (April 1-3). For more details, click here: http://motorcityblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/heck-rabi-wsu-detroit-theatre-march.html