two nights of off-broadway

When asked, some people say, "I'm thrilled I finally made it into your blog."

Others say, "Let me see any pictures first," as they only want good ones posted (totally understandable).

Then there is, "Sure, I don't care."  John is an example of this category.

Some say, "You can post about me but I want to see it first."

But then there are those who say, "Don't write about me. I don't want people knowing anything about what I'm doing."

These people are ok with my changing their identities.

All this to say, a good friend of mine (I'll call Q) is visiting NY.

Q hates theater but does go when she is in NY, even though:  

• The seats are always uncomfortable. 
• I don't want any audience participation if there's a chance I could be picked. 
• The plays are generally too long. 
• The topic sounds boring. 
• Getting there is difficult (Traffic in NY is often bad and Q doesn't take public transportation).

I convince her to see a downtown, one-woman show called The Least Problematic Woman In the World with Dylan Mulvaney. Robin decides to join us last minute. 

This colorful show begins with a series of unfunny jokes, but soon transforms into a heartfelt mini memoire of a very talented and beautiful trans women who is sometimes gay. What a complicated life she lives.

Tonight we venture out to see The Pitch. This is in a small synagogue that has been converted into a theater. This drab, uncolorful stage sets the tone for the play.

Act 1 begins with a guy scratching his balls. This is followed by a slew of F-words and a description of a clogged toilet. The next scene shows a financially strapped father who has recently lost his wife to cancer. I am not enjoying this.

I don't need a play to be funny; I actually prefer a good drama. But I find this play uncomfortable and not in a good way.

Grateful for the intermission, we have no idea how Act 2 begins (or for that matter, how it ends).