Author name: Marie Bonfils

Limitations are the Mother of Innovation.

Parley Theatre’s may have invented a new genre in their streamed production of Laundromat, by Greg Brisendine, now available for free on You Tube. The play’s original structure was a response to a number of factors: the technical limitations of the pandemic’s quarantine, causing abandonment of live performances and rehearsals as well as the innovative use of modern computer-screen technology. It was both funny, and endearing, as a motley crew of intense “individuals” gathers at the unsociable hours of 2 am to do their laundry at the Heart’s Desire Laundromat.

Coupla Scientific Sibs Sittin’ around Talking

Vaxxed, an extremely intriguing original script by Theatre 9-12 Artistic Director Charles Waxberg, opened Friday starring Cynthia Geary and Taylor Scowcroft as an older sister- younger brother pair, each successful research scientists, who have a late night heated discussion. They battle over whether it is scientifically ethical, or even professionally prudent, for scientists to self-administer an unproven vaccination, in order to have personal subjective data, as opposed to solely empirical data.

The play that enchanted audiences returns to the digital stage as part of their 2021 season. Co-director Howie Seago brought his vision and vast expertise to create a vividly striking version of Shakespeare’s comedy classic alongside co-director and Sound Theatre founder Teresa Thuman. This production garnered the 2018 TPS Gregory People’s Choice Award for Outstanding Production of a Play, because it was presented in ASL (American Sign Language) and English.

Memories of a Great-Grandmother, a Holocaust survivor

The Hermit and the Crab is a 27 minute play in which a 28 year old Molly Tollefson, who is having an existential crisis due having a profession (acting) incompatable with current pandemic, somehow manages to have a conversation with her Austrian-born Jewish great-grandmother, Greta, who managed to get her husband out of a concentration camp. Later she devised an ingenious way to get a visa to the U.S.

Behind every Great Inventor is a Mother of Invention.

Matheatre’s production of Nikola Tesla and the Mother of Invention is touring the U.S. and opened at 18th and Union Aug 20 and 21st. True to Matheatre’s educational mission to enliven stem subjects through music and drama, the play was truly enlightening about the genesis of one of the greatest inventors of all time: Serbian American Nikola Tesla.

Telsa was a brilliant inventor. She also has a son.

18th and Union will again be hosting Matheatre, a touring company “using live theatre to tell stories that inspire excitement about math and science.” This weekend’s show will be Nikola Tesla and the Mother of Invention.

Electricity pioneer Nikola Tesla’s role model was a brilliant inventor, who was also an uneducated, illiterate housewife: his mother Djuka. This musical exploration of Djuka and her most famous invention–her son Nikola–tells the story of the magnetic push and pull of family bonds, the branching currents of freedom and choices, and balancing surprising sources of energy.

Having seen Maththeatre’s inspirational show about Marie Curie, I heartily recommend this show, which is suitable for all ages.

Nikola Tesla and the Mother of Invention. Matheatre, at 18th and Union. 1406-18th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122. (Central District)Fri Aug 20 7:30. Sat. Aug 21, 5:30 & 7:30 in person or live streamed. Tickets: https://18thandunion.org/tickets. Info: www. 18thandunion.org or https://matheatre.com Off Street Parking, bike racks.

NOTE: In-person audience will be required to show proof of vaccination upon checking in, and must also remain masked when not eating and drinking. All staff and performers are also fully vaccinated, and will be masked when not performing.

End of Civilization

As the twin threats of global warming and the Covid pandemic shatter the sense of entitlement to perpetual prosperity, a sacred principle to US Americans, and as Seattleites face drought, heat, and the Delta variant, the Williams Project presents Marisol by José Rivera. The play could not be more topical.

Two shows each for only one night.

In an air-conditioned space, at half capacity, those with vaccination certificates can watch live performances at 18th and Union. El Corrido de Poncho is a workshop production of a narco-corrido-puppet-musical about a musicia, who tries to help his community by standing up to the cartel and the life of drugs and violence. A “Corrido” is a song which evolved in Mexico during the Mexican Revolutions of the 20th Century, much like a ballad, and was used to transmit tales of oppression and to refute the propaganda in the censored newspapers.

On Sunday night, Emmett Montgomery returns as Sugar Plum Gary, a self-proclaimed ” Satanist, in a red footie pajama, possessed by the spirit of Christmas. Gary presents an evening of incredible interactive stand-up comedy.

Anthropomorphizing Astronomy.

One of my favorite small theatres has produced an innovative quasi educational,quasi children’s, quasi mythological, quasi scientific, quasi touring-show, which I saw in Volunteer Park on Saturday, August 7. Star Play tells the story of “Pleione, the seventh brightest Pleiades sister,” as she takes a journey through space encountering various planets, stars, constellations as well as the various myths associated with them.

It seems this summer, Volunteer Park has been attracting some truly talented outdoor shows. Following hard upon Greenstage’s excellent production of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, Theater22 opened a truly exquisite adaptation of Lewis Carrol’sAlice in Wonderland, complete with music, a bit of camp, as well as witty references to the pandemic, Seattle and indeed Gracie Slick.