The Strand Theater is proud to present arguably the strangest play ever presented at the Strand. For years, [sic] by Melissa James Gibson has received mixed reviews from audiences and critics. At the heart the play contains universal themes of friendship, loneliness, love, and anger, but on the surface it is about nothing at all. "This play has forced the cast to really act. The play's purpose is to find the meaning in the mundane, the actors cannot rely on a plot to carry the performance," adds Artistic Director, Jayme Kilburn. "The script is itself an exercise in language. Creating characters people care about is our job."
Theo is a composer trying to create a heroic theme for an amusement park ride called the Thrill-o-Rama; Babette is a writer trying to finish-or even start-a book theorizing that temper tantrums are the major motivating force behind historical events; and Frank is a would-be auctioneer preparing for his future career by constantly practicing tongue twisters as "Sally sought some seeds to sow but sadly soon it snowed." By exploring these questing lives in language that alternates between exhilarating structural inventiveness and loony comedy, poignant soul-searching and incisive analysis of the life that may actually exist beyond one's four walls, Melissa James Gibson has created a unique play that is as witty and wise as it is stylistically groundbreaking and unexpected.[sic] is directed by the Strand Theater's Artistic Director, Jayme Kilburn. Jayme started the Strand Theater (located in the Station North Arts District) in April 2007 after moving to Baltimore from California for an internship at CENTERSTAGE. Jayme was presented with the difficult task of turning a row home into a viable theater. Almost two years later and the Strand is still swinging, providing affordable space to local artists, creating inventive community projects, and continuously seeking plays that offer substantial roles for women.Videos