IC 3-30-07
Another week, another show. Read the comments
Labels: Iowa City
posted by AdamEggHahn at 3:33 AM
A blog for the National No Shame Theatre community. To find a post relevant to your location, simply peruse the "Posts Menu" on the right, and click. Then click on comments to participate in the discussion
31 Comments:
1. The Ugly Truth About Michael Tabor by Evan Schenck (MT has done many terrible things)
1.5 A Careful Observation on the Passing of Events in Which You Are the Spectator and I Am a Packet of Grape Jelly That You Really Don't Want to Use on Your English Muffin, but There's Nothing Else Really There, So You Just Consider It and Then End Up Rejecting Everything You Have Come to Know About English Muffins and Grape Jelly by Mirri (M's sad face)
2. Mirror Slut by Mirri (mourning a lover)
2.5 A Joke for Only Me by Michael Tabor (Jesse reads a joke, does not share with audience)
3. Coffee Shop Cock by Andrew Daniels (hot for male barrista)
4. The Dopest Ride in The World by Girl, Interrupted (coin-operated make-out machine)
5. The Orange Sketch, Part II, with Special Guest Star Flabbergasted Jakers by Greg Machlin (Greg kills amnesiac Jake with orange)
6. Movie Reviews with Mumbling Moraucst by Timm Sitzmann (unintelligible commentary)
7. Native American History Notes by Alyssa Bowman (Jesse reading AB's classroom notes)
7.5 A Confrontation by Evan Schenck (grapples cause a fight)
8. Fuck This by Sean Shatto (improvised song)
9. Liz's Talking Purse by Liz Byram
10. Sometimes My Dreams Are Haunted by the QB if Ya Know What I Mean by Luke Christensen (LC dreams of Hahn, being tormented by Quote Boys)
10.5 Let's Wake Shelton's Fat Ass Up by Eli Wilkinson (group talk w/Shelton via cell phone)
11. Bottom of the Ninth by Timm Sitzmann (retiring pitcher monologue)
12. I'm a Very Special Birthday Girl on a Very Special Day by Katy Baggs is About To Do Something Horrible (for her 21st, KB has become a streetwalker)
12.5 A Thing That I Made by Jake Gontero (Jake made something, does not share with audience)
13. Cordial by Adam Hahn (spanking, diabetes)
14. I Almost Didn't Make It by Patrick Ashcraft (homosexuality, Jurassic Park, robots)
OMG. Those announcements/order dragged on and on, am I right? They took 4 times the amount of time they should've taken!
>1. The Ugly Truth About Michael Tabor by Evan Schenck (MT has done many terrible things)
This was very similar to that Jesse Blaine piece that happened earlier this semester, where Jesse revealed terrible things that everybody has done. This type of "list of made up weird and terrible stuff" piece is very familiar at No Shame and pops up from time to time. I liked this one especially, because it was about ME.
>1.5 A Careful Observation on the Passing of Events in Which You Are the Spectator and I Am a Packet of Grape Jelly That You Really Don't Want to Use on Your English Muffin, but There's Nothing Else Really There, So You Just Consider It and Then End Up Rejecting Everything You Have Come to Know About English Muffins and Grape Jelly by Mirri (M's sad face)
One time Bill McKenna and I wrote a piece and we gave it a really long title like that and Stangl read it during the announcements and added "...or, How to Trick Stangl Into Reading An Extra Monologue by Michael Tabor and Bill McKenna"
That's sort of how it feels with these long title sometimes, doesn't it? It's not actually a title...it didn't even have anything to do with the piece...it's just a way to sneak in an extra little piece.
>2. Mirror Slut by Mirri (mourning a lover)
I zoned out.
>2.5 A Joke for Only Me by Michael Tabor (Jesse reads a joke, does not share with audience)
I liked it. I'm glad that the audience seemed amused.
>3. Coffee Shop Cock by Andrew Daniels (hot for male barrista)
This was funny.
>4. The Dopest Ride in The World by Girl, Interrupted (coin-operated make-out machine)
This was really good.
>5. The Orange Sketch, Part II, with Special Guest Star Flabbergasted Jakers by Greg Machlin (Greg kills amnesiac Jake with orange)
Why was Stephanie holding the orange the whole time? I was confused by that.
>6. Movie Reviews with Mumbling Moraucst by Timm Sitzmann (unintelligible commentary)
The joke seemed a little too easy. "You know what would be funny? A guy mumbles and the audience can't understand him, but the other character can. NOBODY'S every done THAT idea before!"
That being said, when he mumbled the thing about taking off his shirt and then took off his shirt? That was a good joke.
>7. Native American History Notes by Alyssa Bowman (Jesse reading AB's classroom notes)
Really fun too watch. I was pleased to hear that people in the audience were laughing all the way through it too. This is one of those "either you like it or you don't" pieces, where it is clear that there will be some people that hate it (Adam Hahn), which is fine, but there are some people who will like it and that's what it's all about!
>7.5 A Confrontation by Evan Schenck (grapples cause a fight)
Grapples are the worst.
>8. Fuck This by Sean Shatto (improvised song)
I fucking love the Shat!
>9. Liz's Talking Purse by Liz Byram
I liked it.
>10. Sometimes My Dreams Are Haunted by the QB if Ya Know What I Mean by Luke Christensen (LC dreams of Hahn, being tormented by Quote Boys)
Hilarious.
>10.5 Let's Wake Shelton's Fat Ass Up by Eli Wilkinson (group talk w/Shelton via cell phone)
Fun to do.
>11. Bottom of the Ninth by Timm Sitzmann (retiring pitcher monologue)
I didn't really like this one. I'd have to read it again to discuss why. All I'm left with now is the memory of not liking it.
>12. I'm a Very Special Birthday Girl on a Very Special Day by Katy Baggs is About To Do Something Horrible (for her 21st, KB has become a streetwalker)
This I liked.
>12.5 A Thing That I Made by Jake Gontero (Jake made something, does not share with audience)
This was funny. This piece and my piece earlier were not intentionally similar...we didn't plan to have our two pieces do that on the same night, but I'm glad that it worked out that way.
>13. Cordial by Adam Hahn (spanking, diabetes)
I'm luke warm on this. I didn't hate it or love it. That spanking was very graphic for me!
>14. I Almost Didn't Make It by Patrick Ashcraft (homosexuality, Jurassic Park, robots)
This was awesome! I, like everybody else, was wanting it to just go on for hours until the audience all left on their own. That would've been great.
I thought about proof reading this before I submitted it, but I'm too lazy.
1. The Ugly Truth About Michael Tabor by Evan Schenck (MT has done many terrible things)
I had to use the restroom really bad at the beginning of the show so I missed this piece. Sorry though, Evan. I did catch the tail end and I heard some laughs. Kudos to you Evan the audience seemed to enjoy themselves and that's really all any No Shamer can really ask for. It reminds me of the time when I was once a young No Shamer, like you, Evan, and I did a piece that didn't get so many laughs. I was hurt. I really thought what I had was funny. But No Shame taught me a big, big lesson that night...what may be funny in your head, is not always funny in the heads of about 1,000 other people. There have been many times of defeat for me, but, Evan it looks like you had a great victory. Cheers to Evan!
1.5 A Careful Observation on the Passing of Events in Which You Are the Spectator and I Am a Packet of Grape Jelly That You Really Don't Want to Use on Your English Muffin, but There's Nothing Else Really There, So You Just Consider It and Then End Up Rejecting Everything You Have Come to Know About English Muffins and Grape Jelly by Mirri (M's sad face)
Back to back Mirri! WOW! There are times when I need a double dosage of Mirri and that night I got it! I was thrilled to be in the audience for this piece. Mirri, this was a contrast from your second piece, which doesn't settle well for some No Shame audience members. Me, however, I was elated.
2. Mirror Slut by Mirri (mourning a lover)
Mirri seems to mourn a lot. Sometimes I connect with Mirri's pain...sometimes I do not. With this piece I was a little halfway. A cup of coffee with a little cream and a little sugar, if you will. Mirri, I'd like you to celebrate a lover. I challenge you to celebrate one! How about Travis? I hear he is a pretty good boyfriend. I'd like you to write a piece about Travis that is so filled with joy it is about ready to pop. Of course, i don't want you to go against your insticts as a writer, but it could be a rather nice exercise.
2.5 A Joke for Only Me by Michael Tabor (Jesse reads a joke, does not share with audience)
This was really funny. I kept wanting him to tell me the joke, but he didn't. I got so mad that I went up to Jesse afterwards and I said, "Tell me the joke!" And he said there was no joke, I was acting like there was one to make you mad and then I thought it was so funny. I'm still laughing about it. Michael does have a lot of secret jokes and you have to spend time with him and act like you are his friend in order for him to tell you, so I thought Jesse to be pretty cool that he actually got to know some of the jokes and then get to read them onstage.
3. Coffee Shop Cock by Andrew Daniels (hot for male barrista)
By far my favorite piece of the night. That Andrew is quite the crazy character. And he should be writing for No Shame EVERY week. Andrew is quite skilled in the improv arts, so I expect him to bring in those skills as well. But this piece was very clever and I knew Andrew was clever and witty and had quite a bit of stage charm, but I didn't know he had this much. It almost made me want to be the boy he was dreaming about so I could be in the good graces of Andrew, but that was not the case. So in a way, a good way, the piece made me laugh and also broke my heart a little bit. Those kinds of pieces are always my favorite.
4. The Dopest Ride in The World by Girl, Interrupted (coin-operated make-out machine)
It's hard for me to comment on the piece, since I was in it, but I will do my best. I think Janani was going for something really great here. I've taken a few of those rides myself, so when she asked me to do it, I knew exactly where she was coming from. My favorite part was actually getting to play the ride. That part was challenging because there was a lot of physical work involved. Plus I had to throw Janani and I'm always a little weary about harming a fellow actor. But Janani is so great because she takes risks. I was afraid I would swallow some of the change and begin to choke, which would have spoiled the piece completely, but I didn't. ALSO, I got to keep the money when it was over, so in a way, it was my first paid acting gig! YAY! JANANI!
5. The Orange Sketch, Part II, with Special Guest Star Flabbergasted Jakers by Greg Machlin (Greg kills amnesiac Jake with orange)
I really think Greg is due quite a bit of praise with this piece. It really worked for me. This time he was switched to fruits rather than pourable mustard. I think this is in the running for best of...but so is TELL ME SOMETHING TRUE. In terms of comedic work, Greg, made this piece shine. He utilized the other No Shame celebs quite well and wrote a piece that was not only very funny, but it was tragic and had a bit of pathos with it as well. It had a lot of layers, which also like. Who likes a sandwich with just some cheese on it? But with pickles and tomatoes and mayo and pourable mustard and salami and turkey on whole wheat! That's what this piece was like. Biting into a sandwich that has so many flavors! It was quite a treat.
6. Movie Reviews with Mumbling Moraucst by Timm Sitzmann (unintelligible commentary)
I feel in many ways like I ruined TIMM's vision on this one. I knew the basic idea of what he was going for, but my improv skills are a little rusty. I hadn't been to the movies lately and I was not quite up on my game. i thought Timm did a really great job though.Where I think it went wrong is I didn't know how the piece was going to end. So I felt like I had a lot of knives stabbing me on the inside on this one. I wish I had Timm's stage presence. He doesn't seem to let anything phase him and I go through phases all day long. I really needed to get out of my head with this piece and start operating on TImm's level. Tim I apologize and I hope we can keep doing skits in the future.
7. Native American History Notes by Alyssa Bowman (Jesse reading AB's classroom notes)
A true delight. I always like it when Alyssa writes something for No Shame. She has true talent and rarely does she let it come forth and breathe on the stage. I must say that Jesse's performance was mind blowing. He has improved so much even in the last few weeks. He brought such a craft to it that made me crave more. Thinking about the piece now makes me chuckle. I'm going to start writing stuff for Jesse to be in because he is where it's at. I hope to see more Bowman/Blaine collaborations in the future.
7.5 A Confrontation by Evan Schenck (grapples cause a fight)
Evan, I 100% feel you on the grapples. I was glad finally someone decided to speak out on this issue. I've thought about it before, but I couldn't have done half a good a job as Evan. Which leads me to my next observation...not only is Evan growing as a writer, he is growing as a performer! The dual combo! It's like when DVD came out and I wanted a DVD player, but I also stll had a lot of videos and didn't want to have two separate machines. BUT THEN, the DVD/VCR combo came out and I had it all in one. That is what Evan is like.
8. Fuck This by Sean Shatto (improvised song)
So glad to have SS back. His songs always had such a vibrancy to No Shame that is somewhat absent in his presence. I don't think the song was improvised though. Sean is known to practice his pieces till the bitter end. There have been a number of occassions I got into room 170 to say Sean, we're starting the show! And he says just one more minute and I usually comply because I know he wants his song to be the best that it can be. And this song was so good. One of the best one's I've seen of Sean this semester.
9. Liz's Talking Purse by Liz Byram
Maybe would have liked it if the purse talked a little bit more. People might not know the background of this piece, so I'll inform you all a little bit and perhaps it will make everyone enjoy the piece a little bit more with a little bit of insight. Liz got a grant about two years ago to write a stage play about a group of object that talk. Liz, being new to playwriting herself, wrote herself into the play so it would be more true. The play revolved around the purse and all the contents inside and the relationship of the purse to other objects in the house. The refrigerator was the comic relief because he had so much food inside of him, but the purse was the female lead who was always looking for love in the all the wrong places. The play was written as a part of the Funds Allocations in Schools grant and Liz's goal with the piece was to suggest something about consumerism in America, but symphatize witht he actual products. It was performed at the White House in a special ceremony this past December. Well it did not get good reception and Liz was pretty disappointed. She called me up and asked for my advice and I said how about we workshop some of the scenes at No Shame. She agreed and I'm glad she took me up on the offer. I think we saw a great scene and Liz I will forward you my notes for further improvement. Unfortunately, I can only say so much on this blog here.
10. Sometimes My Dreams Are Haunted by the QB if Ya Know What I Mean by Luke Christensen (LC dreams of Hahn, being tormented by Quote Boys)
I have to applaud Luke for writing what I thought was quite an indepth look at Quote Boy and how he affects the psyche of a thirteen year old boy. I didn't understand why Adam was in the piece, but I did have a good time playing one of the Quote Boy clones. To prepare for the role I thought about what it would be like if Quote Boy was cloned and what the clone would feel like and what he would act like, which of course would not be the same as the original Quote Boy, which was a lot more challenging than it may have seemed. My favorite part was taunting Luke in the dream. I could have gone on all night! Luke is a great sport and a great writer/performer. I see Luke having potential at No Shame far beyond my years. Luke, we have to collaborate a little more. I'm working on a piece for you.
10.5 Let's Wake Shelton's Fat Ass Up by Eli Wilkinson (group talk w/Shelton via cell phone)
What I really wanted was the conversation to continue. I think there was a lot of potential for more Shelton/audience interaction. I thought the conversations about Shelton's penis size were a little unnecessary. Eli, I think what the piece needed was a little more focus. I also was a little confused at the beginning. I thought maybe Shelton was on a vacation with his family in a different time zone and it was really, really inappropriate to call him at midnight because it was really 3am or something. I also thought Shelton should have come to the VILLAGE INN. Kalona is not that far. I would go to Kalona if someone called me a really wanted me to come. So I felt Shelton was a little standoffish, but I think that is what made the piece so, so funny. I'm laughing about it now thinking about it!
11. Bottom of the Ninth by Timm Sitzmann (retiring pitcher monologue)
It was great so see Timm write something that was so close to his heart. Timm's baseball stuff is so revolutionary because he is so passionate about baseball. He is also coming at it from a different angle, because he is an ex-ball player. But that doesn't mean his love for it is gone. I used to play tournament chess years ago, but that doesn't mean my love and enthusiasm from it is gone. I just didn't have the time with such a rigorous theatre schedule and everything. I know Timm at one point had to chose between college and baseball, so naturally Tim wanted to further his education. I think the important lesson here is that Tim hasn't given up. Giving up is not a good thing and I do not advocate it. Timm is a personal hero of mine and he continues to inspire me. It makes me want to articulate a few things about my old chess days. Thanks Timm for inspiring me.
12. I'm a Very Special Birthday Girl on a Very Special Day by Katy Baggs is About To Do Something Horrible (for her 21st, KB has become a streetwalker)
Katy continues to share her anatomy with the audience in ways I never thought possible. There was some heated debate last night about whether or not that bottle was really inside of Katy. There were several theories, but I think that pondering that question is missing the point of the piece. What is most interesting about Katy is that she continues to costume design the pieces she is in. Katy, would you be interested in doing costumes for a few of my own pieces? The writing of the piece took me back to my own days when I used to wonder about my body. Katy oftens unlocks hidden things about my sexuality that I never thought possible. Unfortunately, dramaturgically I had issues with the script. I would need to see the script to make some of my definite points, but Katy has shown No Shame over the years, which I think all a No Shamer can really hope to do.
12.5 A Thing That I Made by Jake Gontero (Jake made something, does not share with audience)
Jake, I apologize because I do not remember this piece. Sometimes I am forgetful and my mind wanders. Perhaps a little refresher. Jake how about drinks at Spicolli's around 3:00? Maybe you could even inact the piece again. That would be quite a treat. Jake, have you ever wanted to share something with the audience that you have made? That crossed my mind.
13. Cordial by Adam Hahn (spanking, diabetes)
I wasn't sure if Adam was referring to the act of spanking being cordial or the cordial candies? Was anyone else confused by this? Adam has a great way of physicalizing his pieces, as he has shown the past few years and this was no execption. The only problem I had with the piece overall was that I could not actually feel the presence of the character that he was spanking. I really think the piece would have benefitted if it was not a monologue. Adam, I encourage you to write more pieces for an ensemble. I think you may learn a thing or two if you do this Adam. It has worked for me. But not everything that works for you works for me. All in all, I enjoyed about the first minute and then it slowly spiralled down hill from there.
14. I Almost Didn't Make It by Patrick Ashcraft (homosexuality, Jurassic Park, robots)
I think this piece was misinterpreted whole-heartedly by numerous members of the No Shame audience. Allow me to digress. There was a THIRD correlation. A correlation between Matt being gay, John Hammond's work and the fundamentals of religion. When Matt and I rehearsed this piece for about an hour on Thursday I thought we had made this clear. I really wanted to stress the correlations and that there were three of them. Was the audience confused? Please let me know. I'm working on a new draft of it and I'm hoping it can be improved? Would No Shame audience members like to see a new draft? Plus, Matt decided to add a line without asking me, which I think made things a little confusing for the audience as well. I have forgiven Matt as I don't want to burn bridges with him and he is naturally the best person to play the part.
"Katy, would you be interested in doing costumes for a few of my own pieces?"
I'm no seamstress, but I can get crafty on occasion.
"dramaturgically I had issues with the script."
Costuming issues took up my time and I rushed the writing. The script (and my performance, I think) could have been better.
"There was some heated debate last night about whether or not that bottle was really inside of Katy."
If it wasn't, then where did it come from? You all saw my ass, I wasn't hiding it behind me. I would have shown the bottle to anyone who asked: my vagina made the colored ink on the paper label run and it looked like an oil slick.
I also want to see Mirri celebrate a lover!
Also, I don't think either Patrick or I are being very serious here. Patrick, what kind of things did you wonder about your body?
Did you wonder if you were really a robot?
The Orange Sketch, Part II, with Special Guest Star Flabbergasted Jakers by Greg Machlin (Greg kills amnesiac Jake with orange)
Oh, and seriously, folks. I've always view Flabbergasted Jakers as a whole different character from the man Jake Gontero or from when Jamal or I just writes a weird monologue for Jake to do. Flabbergasted Jakers is always trying to get people to agree with his ridiculous ideas and faulty logic and he seems to always chant complicated chants and assume people will join in and then quickly stops them from chanting (even if they are not), because he has more things to say. The differences from "a weird monologue Jake is doing" and Flabbergasted Jakers can seem subtle at times, but they are there.
This is the second time somebody has made this mistake. NO! Flabbergasted Jakers is not just Jake being Jake like this title would have suggested and he is not Jake doing a weird monologue.
I enjoyed Friday's show so much more than I was expecting to. No Shame, you got really weird. It's cool, though.
You are all so boring! Let's shake something up right now. Ok, ok, ok, ok, let me get things started. Allright. Here we go. Who wants to know how pissed off Shelton is that we woke him up? I do! Do you think that he will come to the next show and yell and/or swear at us all? Does anybody feel bad about it? Shelton, are you reading this? Do you want to chime in on it?
Ok. I've got another topic for discussion: I think that the audience should boo more. What do you think? Booing? Like...if a piece is really bad? I hear tell that the audience used to be ruthless about that sort of stuff.
Oh, hello. I do not really have anything to add to that thing that Mr. Tabor said except to say that I think that waking Shelton up was mean. And funny. Isn't it weird that those two things sometimes go together? I think that it weird.
Any way, I thought maybe that you would want to shake things up by giving me feedback on my new idea for a piece? I know, I know that the last time I posted an idea that it got stolen, but I think that since I had a nice talk about with Tim that this issue is resolved, so I feel safe.
Here is my idea: I go on stage and I eat my own mouth. This is just an optical illusion that I know how to do, so don't be alarmed that it would be magic, or anything. You don't think it could cause alarm, do you? If they think it's magic?
Oh, and I have one other idea that I think you should see if you like. It is: A Harry Potter parody.
Do you like this idea?
Only if Harry Potter had been molested as a child and isnow holding aknife to his wrists and coming to terms with how he and his books are worthless time killing wannabes. Then he kills himself. That would be the only way Harry Potter would be interesting on stage.
p.s. if you can't tell, I REALLY hate Harry Potter and this 'craze' surrounding those worthless books. Oh and yes. I have tried reading them. I just don't hate to hate.
I left feeling like I hadn't enjoyed this show. Looking back, some parts were pretty good.
The opening of the show.
I liked that Timm and Patrick got through the rules/order/announcements quickly, but I'm never sure that something this low-key sets the, "This is theatre. You're going to see something fantastic." mood. I'm interested in what people who do not and have never hosted think. Do you want more energy in the opening? Are you tired of my yelling and jumping over things? Did it help when we started only having two hosts per week? Would it be even better it we only had one? Shouldn't Eli take off his baseball cap when he goes onstage?
1. The Ugly Truth About Michael Tabor by Evan Schenck
Good enough, for what it was.
1.5 A Careful Observation . . . by Mirri
Would have been better if she had maintained the sad face through the light fade.
2. Mirror Slut by Mirri
I remember liking this, and I remember thinking that for being purely text-driven (steady delivery and no physical movement; I don't know that listening to this story would be that different from reading it), it didn't seem boring on the stage.
2.5 A Joke for Only Me by Michael Tabor
So much better than #7
3. Coffee Shop Cock by Andrew Daniels
Was this Andrew's debut? I thought I recognized him from having done something else, but I don't see his name in the orders.
Enjoyable, but I was distracted by the disappearing/reappearing rhyme scheme.
4. The Dopest Ride in The World by Girl, Interrupted
Really good, though I worry that Janani will eventually inflict a Landuyt-style injury to her ass.
5. The Orange Sketch, Part II, with Special Guest Star Flabbergasted Jakers by Greg Machlin
I didn't see part one of this. I did like hiding Jake's body behind the curtain.
6. Movie Reviews with Mumbling Moraucst by Timm Sitzmann
Okay.
7. Native American History Notes by Alyssa Bowman
Reasons I hated this:
1. The, "this piece is going nowhere, and it won't end until the light booth cuts it off," premise takes much longer and is less interesting than just joking about such a piece. When it is staged, the most interesting part of it is that those responsible are playing a tedious joke on everyone else. This is an expression of either indifference or disdain for the audience that I don't understand.
2. The premise was obvious from the beginning of the piece. If there was any pay-off from the realization that no pay-off is coming, it came within the first minute.
3. We've seen this premise before.
4. Every time Jesse managed to be cute or involving, it reminded me how much better it would have been if someone had put ANY EFFORT AT ALL into an actual script and asked him to perform it.
7.5 A Confrontation by Evan Schenck
fun
8. Fuck This by Sean Shatto
The feeling I get after most of Sean improvised songs is that they're good but not great, and I wish he would have done a prepared song instead.
Sean, good luck on quickly getting rid of/not actually having pinkeye.
9. Liz's Talking Purse by Liz Byram
I think this piece was written by committee in just under a minute. It worked, but I couldn't help thinking it would have been much better with just a few minutes of revision.
10. Sometimes My Dreams Are Haunted by the QB if Ya Know What I Mean by Luke Christensen
I am unable to complain about a piece in which I get to stomp and scream like a prehistoric monster. I'm really surprised that Quote Boy is still interesting, but this piece used him well.
10.5 Let's Wake Shelton's Fat Ass Up by Eli Wilkinson
I'm all for terrorizing Shelton, but we're collectively punishing him for being the kind of friend who answers his phone in the middle of the night instead of just turning off the ringer and going back to sleep? And leading the harassment is Eli, who almost didn't come to the show either?
11. Bottom of the Ninth by Timm Sitzmann
Timm likes baseball a lot more than I do. I was confused early in the piece if this character was heading to the field or coming from a game he had just blown. Shouldn't a professional baseball player have long ago worn out or outgrown the glove he was given as a child?
12. I'm a Very Special Birthday Girl on a Very Special Day by Katy Baggs is About To Do Something Horrible
This didn't get the kind of reaction Katy expected. In my experience, onstage nudity elicits more silent shock than vocal shock and a lot of puzzling/uncomfortable comments afterward. Also, if a waitress sees you naked on stage you might not have to pay for breakfast at her restaurant the next morning.
The costume change should have come a paragraph or two earlier, before the, "I've done . . . dirty sanchez . . . finger cuffs . . . " list.
12.5 A Thing That I Made by Jake Gontero
Okay. Like 2.5, but less so.
13. Cordial by Adam Hahn
I like candy, and I'm not usually a snob about it, but those cheap cherry cordials aren't very good.
14. I Almost Didn't Make It by Patrick Ashcraft
If you're going to perform something at No Shame, make sure it ends in five minutes or less. If it doesn't really have a script, that's no excuse. This kind of structure, where two actors could essentially talk forever, feels much longer to the audience than to the performers.
This had some funny lines, and I loved the first minute or two. Ten minutes in (no one is sure how long this piece ran. I'm ballparking ten minutes.), I was beyond caring about a tenuous "third correlation".
MT: I, like everybody else, was wanting it to just go on for hours until the audience all left on their own. That would've been great.
As an audience member, I don't want to leave out of boredom. As a performer, I don't like the idea of putting the audience through that.
1. The Ugly Truth About Michael Tabor by Evan Schenck (MT has done many terrible things)
Ditto to what people sayz before, yeah?
1.5 A Careful Observation on the Passing of Events in Which You Are the Spectator and I Am a Packet of Grape Jelly That You Really Don't Want to Use on Your English Muffin, but There's Nothing Else Really There, So You Just Consider It and Then End Up Rejecting Everything You Have Come to Know About English Muffins and Grape Jelly by Mirri (M's sad face)
Oh man, the favorite part to me was totally Mirri explaining how the 2 Mirri-alone-on-stage peices weren't so much supposed to go back to back. I had a riot.!
2. Mirror Slut by Mirri (mourning a lover)
2.5 A Joke for Only Me by Michael Tabor (Jesse reads a joke, does not share with audience)
I liked how long it took Jesse to read the joke, and the series of reactions he appeared to be having to it.
3. Coffee Shop Cock by Andrew Daniels (hot for male barrista)
I wasn't sure why everybody loved this. I'm still not. I liked it fine.
4. The Dopest Ride in The World by Girl, Interrupted (coin-operated make-out machine)
This I liked a whole lot. Favorite piece of the night, prolly. I was hoping that the fall was prepared, but Janani said no: unprepared and painful, which does make me remember the piece with a bit of a wince now.
5. The Orange Sketch, Part II, with Special Guest Star Flabbergasted Jakers by Greg Machlin (Greg kills amnesiac Jake with orange)
I enjoyed it. Can't remember the details at the moment.
6. Movie Reviews with Mumbling Moraucst by Timm Sitzmann (unintelligible commentary)
I agrre wiht Mikl Tambor already said!!!
7. Native American History Notes by Alyssa Bowman (Jesse reading AB's classroom notes)
Jesse did such a good job. I can't hardly imagine anybody else pulling it off so well. I sort of wish the light booth had done the dim at 5, out at 6 thing, cuz that would have made the piece the perfect length for me, but then again, the drawn out, awkward confusion was pretty precious, too. (By the by, Adam, do you know how you're pretty much wrong about everything? All the time? It's like your thing that you do!)
7.5 A Confrontation by Evan Schenck (grapples cause a fight)
Man, grapples are such a fukkin let down, am I right? I remember how disappointed I was when we bought some. This piece felt my pain.
8. Fuck This by Sean Shatto (improvised song)
It's always nice to see the Shat on the stage, and always nice to see him make a song. It takes no special knack to say so.
9. Liz's Talking Purse by Liz Byram
I liked this fine, though my favorite thing about it was probably hearing it read in the order. Made me giggle.
10. Sometimes My Dreams Are Haunted by the QB if Ya Know What I Mean by Luke Christensen (LC dreams of Hahn, being tormented by Quote Boys)
This was really, really great. The most hardest I've quote boy laughed since the original quote boy volume part1.
10.5 Let's Wake Shelton's Fat Ass Up by Eli Wilkinson (group talk w/Shelton via cell phone)
Funny and mean. Reminded me a lot of a No Shame phone call piece I saw James Stewart perform one time.
11. Bottom of the Ninth by Timm Sitzmann (retiring pitcher monologue)
I didn't really understand the baseball sad feelings. I can't sports.
12. I'm a Very Special Birthday Girl on a Very Special Day by Katy Baggs is About To Do Something Horrible (for her 21st, KB has become a streetwalker)
Hats off to Katy for pooshing a envelope again, and doing it with style. Also, I really liked how past and present and future tense seemed to get totally irradicated by the end.
12.5 A Thing That I Made by Jake Gontero (Jake made something, does not share with audience)
I can't believe Jake turned something in all by his self! I wish he would do it every week. Every day!
13. Cordial by Adam Hahn (spanking, diabetes)
This I hated! Like a Hahn hates fun! (Just playin', bro! I josh around with you cuz we're pals like that. [But I did mostly hate it, though.])
14. I Almost Didn't Make It by Patrick Ashcraft (homosexuality, Jurassic Park, robots)
Delightful! But I really do think it would have been a super-magical event if the piece had gone on till everyone walked out. That would have taken some serious commitment, though, cuz I know that Jake at least would have sat there and watched for a long, long time.
"I was hoping that the fall was prepared, but Janani said no: unprepared and painful, which does make me remember the piece with a bit of a wince now."
Don't wince! My ass is feeling a lot better now. I basically jumped out of Patrick's arms before he expected me to, which was bad planning on my part.
Whenever you hear the Maple Leaf Rag, be sure to make out with the nearest person.
I liked that Timm and Patrick got through the rules/order/announcements quickly, but I'm never sure that something this low-key sets the, "This is theatre. You're going to see something fantastic." mood.
Quickly? Were we watching the same thing? I'm all for going over rules and order and announcements, but there is way too much lollygagging/joke cracking/dragging it on.
I'm interested in what people who do not and have never hosted think.
Why only them? I've hosted before and I'm the only person who's seemed to voice any opinion at all about this topic. And the only response that I got was a few snide remarks when I wanted to put an announcement into the order ("Oh, I don't know if we'll have time for that, Michael.") Which is not my complaint. I don't care if there are announcements I care about all the extra fanfare and generally unentertaining things that happen that don't have anything to do with the show.
I'm in the audience too and I watch this going on just as much as a person that has not hosted. Why don't you want to hear from me? Other than, I suppose, you don't really respect my opinion or care about my ideas or what I have to say, but I mean...objectively...why don't you want to hear from me?
Do you want more energy in the opening?
Eh...not really. I think that we have 15 pieces in front of us that are theoretically supposed to do the entertainment...I think get through the order/rules/announcements quickly and CLEARLY and get into the show. Cut through the bullshit.
Are you tired of my yelling and jumping over things?
A little at the beginning as the lights are flashing is fine, but you have been known to get carried away with it and disrupt the reading of the order. The order is what people want to hear most. It’s frustrating to not be able to hear or understand it.
Did it help when we started only having two hosts per week?
Yes, but that was like a million years ago.
Would it be even better it we only had one?
Maybe something to try. I think that it would cut out a lot of the bullshit that we have to watch, because we won't have to see these guys trying to riff off each other and be funny.
Shouldn't Eli take off his baseball cap when he goes onstage?
Yeah, man. That was rude.
"Shouldn't Eli take off his baseball cap when he goes onstage?"
"Yeah, man. That was rude."
Aw hell no, dawg, that cap is hell-for cute. I'd like to see MORE ball caps on hosts, matter of fact!
(But yeah, the show intros are usually awful, as they have been for many years now. They make No Shame seem so much lamer than it usually even is. Eli's about my favorite No Shame host lately, cuz he doesn't jabber or crack wise very much [AND he looks sharp in that ball cap!]. Don't tell him that, though, I don't want it to go to his head.)
Why only them? I've hosted before . . . why don't you want to hear from me?
Michael Tabor, I'm sorry for not specifically mentioning that I wanted to hear from you when I voiced a wish that people who:
-haven't had a chance to influence the hosting of the show by hosting it themselves
-are not, "the only person who's seemed to voice any opinion at all about this topic"
-might not have attended most performances for the last several years
-might not be regular performers, perhaps having never performed
and:
-for whatever reason, don't voice their opinions of the way No Shame is run, either here or to board members in person
would give input.
In the future, I'll try to make it more clear that I care deeply what you, Michael Tabor, think when I ask other people for their opinions.
Thank you for moving the conversation forward. I hope a variety of interested parties respond.
Quickly? Were we watching the same thing? I'm all for going over rules and order and announcements, but there is way too much lollygagging/joke cracking/dragging it on.
??? To me, it felt like one of the shortest intros we've done in a long time. Maybe it was (relatively) short without being quick.
In other news, the No Shame website is nowhere near maxing out its donated bandwidth. If you have video of your work (or video of someone else who doesn't mind his/her work going public), we can post it there.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
(Note: this is a re-post. I noticed a typo in my previous.)
In the future, I'll try to make it more clear that I care deeply what you, Michael Tabor, think when I ask other people for their opinions.
Ok, I wasn't trying to turn this into some sort of "let's whip out our dicks to measure them" off...I was just trying to say that it seemed like you only wanted to hear from those people, where I think the people that don't fit those criteria (for example, me) have valid input as well. I wasn't trying to express that your exclusion was a personal insult to me (but re-reading my post, I suppose that it's not completely unreasonable for a reader to come away with that...). I, honesty, was just trying to express that I (and others) could give some good input on it as well.
I'm sorry if when you said, "I'm interested in what people who do not and have never hosted think," this did not mean that you were not interested in what people who have hosted and do host think.
"In the future, I'll try to make it more clear that I care deeply what you, Michael Tabor, think when I ask other people for their opinions."
Oooh, snap! Quite the cutting rebutt, Feet. But fuck the sarcasm, Mung. I mean, I'm all for open, honest, mean spirited bitching and kvetching, but let's not be coy. Let's not dally. Let's you and Michael get started with some honest-to-goodness interweb smack downs. Maybe that weiner measuring contest that Tabr suggested or something.
Here, I'll start you guys off:
MIKL: Adam, you a fuckin dick, mang! What's you problem, ho-beast?
ADM: Silence! [No Shmae!] Begone from mine thing that I like-a do! [NO SHMAE!] You messy my shit up like a ASShole! Long live No Shmae!
And... GO:
Ummm... carrots?
Here's a smack down for ya! Eli doens't look good in a ball cap. Infact that thing is disgusting like his FACE! You know what, let him wear the ballcap so that his face is in the shadows where it belongs.
As for the hosts problem. How about we sit there with whips and whip the board members if they are reading too slowly! That sounds like fun, AND it would be funny? Am I right? Am I right? Scoodles!
I want to lick the boards tears! Coup, anyone? COUP!
Oh and by the way fuck you.
1. The Ugly Truth about Michael Tabor--entertaining, but still missing that third thing. Michael's response was great though.
1.5 The title should have been re-read aloud by Mirri at the top of the piece.
2. Mirror Slut--apologies. I don't remember this one, but Mirri's serious pieces are almost always strong.
2.5 A Joke for Only Me--this worked well.
*3. Coffee Shop Cock--count me among those who really enjoyed it.
*4. Dopest Ride in the World--absolutely delightful. When will Janani write a bad no shame piece??
5. Wow. Best of, Patrick? High praise. Thank you. I think Part I was a little tighter, and got a better response, but, as usual, performers were great.
As for the "Flabbergasted Jakers" thing--point taken, Michael--though I would have corrected that b4 the piece went up if I'd known…
6. Movie Reviews--enjoyable. The shirt gag was the highpoint.
7. Native American History Notes--this was the most enjoyable "irritainment" piece I've seen, and actually improved tremendously by Jesse's delivery. Could have been better if the board op had had a timer & known about it (it should be noted that Alex is an excellent board op). I feel like people who do these pieces should notify the light board op in advance, so they can get cut off after 5 minutes.
8. Fuck This--good song.
9. Liz's talking purse--
*10 Sometimes my dreams are haunted by the QB--Luke's best piece. I had a great deal of fun in this. I got a kick out of beating him up (onstage), and good use of someone else's character.
10.5 Let's wake Shelton's fat ass up--I hope Shelton isn't mad. I'm assuming this is ok because of Eli & Shelton's long-standing friendship. He certainly deserved a night off if he wanted it…
*11 Bottom of the Ninth--this was a really good light, but serious piece. One minor note--a couple of cliches crept in--I guess that goes with the territory of "retiring big leaguer," but the stuff about the family being supportive was great. One of the best non-dark serious NoShame pieces.
*12 Katy Baggs is absolutely fearless.
13. Cordial--This was unsettling a good way.
14. I Almost Didn't Make It--this was way too entertaining to qualify as "irritainment,"--something about the way Patrick & Matt naturally play off one another--but could have been a lot tighter with a script.
I meant to add that I liked Evan's 7.5 and Liz's talking purse piece.
Blood is on my hands,
blood is on my hands,
nowhere to run
with blood on my hands
one day we all will fall
with blood on our hands
and when that day comes
to hell we shall go
with blood on our hands
time is now
time is blood
we cannot escape time
with blood on our hands.
snotnosed, I liked what your poem said. maybe it could be lyrics! are you starting a band? Do you need somebody to play the accordion?
Go ahead and make it a song, then maybe I'll tell you who REALLY wrote that. I'll give you a clue, he's a regular... ish. I guess.
Hi all, since Patrick won't be at the show tonight, is there anyone else who might be willing to bring a boombox? Can we still use the sound booth?
is there anyone else who might be willing to bring a boombox?
Yeah, I should be able to.
Can we still use the sound booth?
No
When it is staged, the most interesting part of it is that those responsible are playing a tedious joke on everyone else. This is an expression of either indifference or disdain for the audience that I don't understand.
i dont know adam. im not going to claim ignorance to a more personal conflict that is in play here, but i think artistically speaking you are way off base here.
clearly you take all of these pieces as a personal attack at you. or that you are being 'taunted'. you seem to extend this paranoia to the audience. but, adam-- you are part of a very small minority that does not find these pieces entertaining. they arent entertaining just because you dont like them. if you werent at no shame, these pieces would be every bit as funny.
these types of pieces have their own place and value.
no they are not the kind of pieces that adam hahn likes to make, but does that mean that they must be shit? no shame is designed to be experimental. traditionally written pieces are fine, but you cant claim that they have default superiority just because you think they are better. art is too subjective for that.
if you would like to understand this 'new wave' 'anti-humor' or 'dada-absurdism' i recommend watching some andy kaufman material. take notes.
One point I would like to make is that the audience WAS LAUGHING. I am pretty sure that if they were feeling alienated or "hated" they would've responded in a manner appropriate to the expression of such feelings. In reality, everyon is entitled to their own opinion but just because you don't enjoy a piece, doesn't mean you have to turn it into something mean-spirited or negative. It was just a fun piece. And hey, maybe somebody learned a little something too.
Post a Comment
<< Home