I Can't Believe It's Not Shakespeare

Last weekend I had the great pleasure of attending a reading of Mariana Carreño King’s play OFELIA’S LOVERS.  Not only was the reading free but they also provided the audience with wine, and since I’m not exactly rolling in cash these days and still enjoy the dubious benefits of alcohol, this was most agreeable.  There really is nothing quite like live theater, and I certainly don’t require a large production budget to be entertained.  Ofelia’s Lovers may not have had the money to construct a detailed set and elaborate costumes but what it did have was a captivating script and actors that captured and performed the characters beautifully.

I may be new to the working world and to my post as managing director of ICBINS but I’m no stranger to theater. Sure -  I somewhat enjoy fancy theatrics like actors disappearing in a cloud of smoke or swinging across the stage, but when it really comes down to it and what I will take away with me and ponder for weeks to come is the dialogue.  Some of my all time favorite performances had a minimal set with one setting and actors that sat around (they didn’t fly) and just talked.  That’s right, they talked – for two hours, and I could have sat through 10 more.  Not to say every dialogue heavy performance I’ve seen was spectacular but with the right story and the right cast everything else is just eye candy.

This is good news for a broke ass company like ICBINS.

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