Speed the Plow, Speed it Up

On Wednesday, I went to a preview of Speed the Plow at the Barrymore Theatre.  I got 2 complimentary tickets (one of the perks of being in a Broadway show!!) for the matinee and decided to ask my good friend Shawn to go with me.  Sometimes matinees can make me sleepy, so we decided to stop at Starbucks and get a big iced coffee to drink on the walk over.  Yumm! 

Unfortunately, the coffee turned out to NOT be such a good idea.  I was definitely alert, jittery even…and about halfway through the show, I really had to go to the bathroom.  Did I mention this show runs without an intermission?  Even though I was somewhat close to the aisle, I refuse to leave to pee during a show. Seriously, I would rather sit and quietly wet my pants then make a bunch of noise scootching past people and apologizing my way to the back of the theatre.  It could disrupt the actors!  It could disrupt the audience! 

Also, I don’t want to miss anything.  It’s different in a movie because you feel like you can catch up on the parts you missed if you watch it again.  In theatre, it’s live and will only happen once.  Plus, although uncomfortable, I knew I would be okay because my bladder is trained for this kind of thing.  Growing up, my dad did not like to stop the car very often on long road trips.  He was obsessed with making good time and stopping to pee every hour was just not an option. 

Finally, at curtain call I instructed Shawn to meet me outside the theatre before pushing past people in the aisle and jolting down the stairs to the bathrooms.  I had already waited the whole show, and there was no way I was going to wait forever in line.  I think maybe I was second down the stairs and to the bathroom.  Okay, so one old lady beat me. 

Luckily, my need to pee didn’t interfere with how much I enjoyed the show, and I didn’t seem to miss a moment in my heightened state.  I thought the actors were very good, but could have sped up the dialogue a little.  It seems to need more rehearsal so it moves along from beat to beat faster.  Then again, my perspective might be different if I hadn’t been so uncomfortable and dying for them to get through that third act so I could get to the bathroom.   

On a side note, Jeremy Piven is pretty dang sexy in person, but I think too old for me. 

Lesson learned:  Always go to the bathroom before a show with no intermission, even if you think you don’t have to.  You’ll enjoy the show in a much more relaxed manor and not feel the urge to throw something every time an actor takes a gigantic pause. 

--  Emily Kinney

Comments

[eve white]

I just read about that play in Backstage! Color me jealous. I will see a live show this year. I will see a live show this year...

Liked reading about your experience. You have a way of taking us along with you in your writing.