Rhubarb Theater artistic director Trish Crist deserves a lot of credit. On a practical level, if you write your own plays — as she has done since taking over the reins of the company originally founded by Julie Alexander in 2002 — you save money on royalty fees. Moreover, if you exhibit a talent for crafting original works that engagingly tap into the modern social sphere, you also happen to be pushing personal creativity forward while helping to establish a group artistic identity.
On her third try, after the well-received collection of comic scenes What and the somewhat hit-or-miss Nashville Monologues, Crist gives us Potty Talk, exhibiting continued growth as a writer, particularly in her ability to find humor and irony in the routines of daily life. She mines fertile ground here in three different ladies' washrooms, where a well-chosen cast of eight, under Crist's direction, goes about whatever it is that women go about doing in the loo, amid "the smell of pineapples and doo-doo."
The women act very naturally in between the passing mention of pap smears, the extended evaluation of men (especially masculine Hollywood types like Sam Elliott), discussions about fellow employees, the proffering of advice to the lovelorn, and tampon thievery — all of which comes off as business as usual. It's all treated with generally sharp wit that evokes some serious laughter, and Crist provides her actors with characterizations that, though not necessarily deep, are clever enough to exploit the setup in spite of their brevity or cameo-like nature.
Structurally, Crist's two-act piece hangs on the jokes and repartee, though there is a loose plot framework based on one of the women's forthcoming performance in a play. Hence, we're taken from a washroom at the workplace to a washroom at a drinking establishment to a washroom that's doubling as a theater changing room. These venues are tweaked subtly during set changes — and yes, bathroom stalls three abreast on an upstage wall certainly make for a different kind of stage scenery. Crist also smartly interpolates washroom sound effects into the action, designed to establish some reality and elicit a chuckle without going too far into the realm of bodily functions.
The casting is first-rate, featuring experienced performers who strike the right balance between girlish charm and contemporary ballsiness. If there's a leading lady, it's Robyn Berg, and she's very good both early and late, especially in her delivery of the show's final speech, which offers a play-within-the-play moment that deftly deposits the author's sage parting thoughts. In addition, Layne Sasser's singing charwoman is funny, Wesley Paine's uptight executive offers welcome tension, and Laurel Baker does nicely with the office flake routine. Others making worthy contributions include Pat Rulon, Jervon Dailey, Kellye Mitchell and Lisa Marie Wright, who need only dangle their shapely legs behind the bathroom stall door to gain our immediate attention but also get good mileage out of their sharp one-liners.
The opening weekend audiences for Potty Talk were strong, no doubt driven by word of mouth. The play surely holds automatic appeal for female theatergoers, but it's thoroughly entertaining for all — even for those of us who've never seen the insides of a ladies' washroom (or at least won't admit to it).
More new local works
The Ingram New Works Festival presents readings of new plays written by eight Tennessee playwrights who have been working with Tennessee Repertory Theatre's support. The festival culminates with a staged reading of a new play by the recipient of the Ingram New Works Fellowship — David Auburn, whose play Proof won the 2001 Tony Award for Best Play and the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
The readings will take place at Nashville Children's Theatre, 25 Middleton St. All readings begin at 7 p.m. The play lineup: Blessed Event by Matthew Carlton (April 28), Titty Bars by McAdoo Greer (April 29), Table by Diane Di Ianni (April 30), Long Way Down by Nate Eppler (May 1), No. 731 Degraw-street, Brooklyn, or Emily Dickinson's Sister by Claudia Barnett (May 3), Love Out Loud by Valerie S. Hart (May 4), Supernova by Ross Brooks (May 5) and The Columnist by David Auburn (May 6-8).
Tickets for individual readings are a minimum $5 donation at the door. A festival pass which includes admission to all eight readings is available for $25 at the door. (The festival is free for Rep season subscribers.) For reservations or further information, email ingramnewworks@gmail.com or call 244-4878.
Email arts@nashvillescene.com.
