I can count the number of theatrical performances I’ve been to on two hands, no joke. If only I’d bumped into Slay earlier. There’s definitely something electric about the experience — the in-the-moment-ness, the give-and-take. Which is why we did the tweetup: trying to keep people from repeating my own mistake.

(As I said elsewhere after Infinity: it was everything I didn’t know I was missing but need.)

And you’re right, Slumdog was great, but I wasn’t rapt. Last time I remember being truly rapt at a film was either City of God or when they screened Playtime at The Wex on 70mm — THAT was something else.

I am always reminded of what an inspirational experience attending a theatrical performance can be. The ability to transform a small room or stage with minimal props and lighting, and to truly convey a location or personality, is an art-form. As someone who has made a living out of creating spaces to define a story or person, I must write Bravo! and Brava! to the director and staging crew.

…and I keep trying to randomly use the word “Sunfish” in my every day conversations… I think it is the new buzzword for 09.

(As a chronic sifter, I am going to be crucified if the “projec” word wasn’t Sunfish…so please just go along with it. And if you don’t know what I mean, then it is reason to attend to unlock the mystery.)

I’m probably not the best theater critic (this is a good thing), so theater purists keep that in mind when reading my remarks. For the rest of us, this was a great time and the show held my attention the entire performance, which isn’t so easy. I don’t believe I glanced at my phone once. Something Slumdog couldn’t even do and I thought that was a great movie.

I always hesitate when using the word “support” when discussing the need to support the arts because it sounds like a chore accompanied by a handout. Sally Struthers on WOSU saying “feed these artists”. (though, I’m sure AVLT would very much appreciate the support and it’s needed). In my head sometimes “supporting the arts” can mean supporting something of inferior quality because it’s the right thing to do.

My point is in the case of the Internationalist it was more fun than taking in any movie I can remember. Lastly, my second point is you just happen to be “supporting” the ground floor of something brewing that is first and foremost of great quality and finally, important for a growing city.

Great show. I can’t wait to see more.

Great show!

I don’t think this is an easy script to pull off. Kudos to AVL for having the onions to try it AND for making it work!

Anyway, I really enjoyed the show last night. I’m looking forward to more from AVL!

Walker, Anne, Daniel Fox, Jon Myers, Suzi West, Tim Lessner, Artie Isaac, Nand Dussault, Amber Allen, Kevin Joy, etc — to name a few.

I’ll cop to the fact that stretches of dialogue in a fictional foreign language CAN be a wee bit challenging (maybe not the right word) at times — but in the context of non-verbal cues and body language, plus tone and inflection, it’s really not that hard to decoct the gist.

That being said, REALLY looking forward to seeing AVLTheatre present some original work with Dirty Math.

I’d highly recommend anyone and everyone go to see this next weekend while it’s still playing. I’m not always the best about attending local theater, and I think it sometimes can get overshadowed by all of our great visual arts events in Columbus, but it’s always a great experience to see a local play.

Two thumbs up from me.

Woo-ha.

Saw it last night. Seeing it again Saturday.

It’s the good stuff.