The Shotglass Heard Round the World
Was a line in Sara Geiger’s Church of Christ N’Pals solo performance part of Intiman’s Festival of Emerging Artists. It referred to Marsha P. Jones who started the Stonewall riot of 1968 in New York City, which ignited the Gay Liberation Front by throwing a shotglass at the N.Y. City vice squad. The image was great and it was a great parody of a famous patriotic line in a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson about the Battle of Lexington.
Although the show now and then had some funny lines, drew on excellent material and had a rather talented performer, it was rather incoherent, unfocussed and never quite became entertaining.
Ms. Geiger recounted some of her experiences in both Catholic and Protestant Churches, especially as a youth camp counselor for a conservative denomination, where she gets into trouble for encouraging free thinking about homosexuality. The result of being rejected by her faith community is devastating because she had hoped it would be the center of her social and spiritual life as well as an emotional support during her turbulent teen-age years. This is one of the most tragic experiences any young person can go through, which effects LGBTQ youths disproportionately,.
It is often said that humor is tragedy plus time. I would say humor is unfortunate external circumstances plus time. It seemed that Ms. Geiger’s piece suffered because she didn’t have enough temporal distance from the unfortunate external circumstance she recounted. As a result, she was unable to really connect with the audience.
In my opinion, both the performer and the material have great potential. I wish Ms. Geiger luck. Religious jokes are among my favorites.
Church of Christ N’Pal Weekly Newletter. Written and Performed by Sara Geiger. Intiman’s Festival of Emerging Artists. 18th and Union Theatre. 1406 18th Ave, Seattle 98122. (Central Area- corner of 18th and Union) Fri. Jan 25 9:30 pm, Sat Jan 26 7:30 pm, Sun Jan 27 5:30. Ample Free Street Parking. Good Bar!!!!