RSS 2.0 FeedOctober 14, 2009, Theatre
There is always a first time
Walking into the Unicorn Theatre, the set was lit with lamps and candles. A large bed was stage center with cushioned benches on either side, along with a few random bits of furniture. Each would be used in many different ways for many different stories. The mood was set. Runs through 10/18.
During My First Time, currently running at the Unicorn Theatre, I was met with an evening of offbeat and often shocking anecdotes. Through a series of monologues, the actors were able to speak for nearly every one's first sexual experience. The stories were broken up by statistics about sex, virginity and first times. Audience members were asked to fill out a survey and their answers were read anonymously during the show.
Based on a website first made popular ten years ago, where people could share their "first time" stories anonymously, www.myfirsttime.com, while I'm sure therapeutic for the thousands of contributors, was occasionally distasteful. In fact, it was verging on pornographic. With that in mind, I was apprehensive about what the show would actually contain.
Walking into the Unicorn Theatre, the set was lit with lamps and candles. A large bed was stage center with cushioned benches on either side, along with a few random bits of furniture. Each would be used in many different ways for many different stories. Scenic designer, Gary Mosby, provided all necessary elements for each story, without allowing the stage to feel crowded. The mood was set.
The next thing I noticed was a projection screen directly behind the bed. Before the show, famous quotes about virginity were highlighted. During the show, details about each story were displayed along with erotic art and statistics about first times. Some of the statistics were shocking. Some were amusing. Some were statistics about our particular audience. Jeffrey Cady was the projections designer.
Tanya Brown's properties were functional without drawing much attention. Alex Perry's lighting design featured a strobe light (epileptics beware), single spotlights, and plenty of lighting cues. Benjamin G. Stickels' sound design included songs like Marvin Gaye's Let's Get it On and music from Who Wants to be a Millionaire during the audience survey (clever!). Jon Fulton Adam designed very simple costumes that, nevertheless, told you something important about the kind of characters each actor would play.
Cheryl Weaver, for example, was wearing a conservative pink outfit with a cardigan. She often performed female monologues from the 1960s, or typically "good girls". Her "innocent young girls" monologue, done in silhouette was moving, but I disliked that she played all her virgin characters as nerdy or unsure of themselves. Lauretta Pope's role seemed to be a mid-twenties "normal-type". She had one particular monologue towards the end that was extremely controversial, which she pulled off admirably. Keenan Ramos, a formidable presence onstage, was given some tough character bits that he charmed his way through. Scott Cordes seemed to represent the everyman. He was a bit of a chameleon in this show, slipping in and out of each role with fanfare and delivering a solid performance.
The show, directed by Cynthia Levin, producing artistic director of the Unicorn, was done tastefully, considering the subject matter. (No nudity, thank goodness... that always makes me uncomfortable.) The blocking was brilliant, as the actors moved seamlessly from one story to another. Every part of the stage was used, and nothing was done incidentally, without purpose.
The play was written and compiled by Ken Davenport, who also created The Awesome 80s Prom and Alter Boyz for Off-Broadway. The show opened off-Broadway in the summer of 2007. In the past two years, the show has played all over the United States, and in a few international venues.
Although I try very hard to keep my personal objections out, I think it fair to warn people that this show is about sex (Duh). The virgin was ridiculed for remaining virginal. People of faith are mocked for disagreeing with the "accepted" viewpoint. The show itself is a monument to losing your virginity, getting over it, and looking forward to "the next time". The actors informed us that the gentlemen who created the website wanted to see if anyone else's first time "sucked as much as theirs did". Personally, I disagree with the prevailing attitude, but if the show sounds like your cup of tea, you could do worse.
REVIEW
The Unicorn Theatre
My First Time
Running September 25 - October 18 (Reviewed September 25, 2009).
3828 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
For tickets call 816-531-7529 or online at www.unicorntheatre.org
Cover Photo:
Cast members Lauretta Pope and Keenan Manuel Ramos. Photo by Cynthia Levin
All material contained in KCMetropolis.org is the property of or licensed for use by KCMetropolis.org. Any use, duplication, or reproduction of any or all content of this publication is prohibited except with the express written permission of KCMetropolis.org or the original copyright holders.