Art Reflects Life, Depth in Soul

I saw a blurb in the Willamette Week a few weeks ago for the Free Night of Theater 2008. It said hurry sign up because you will miss out once it's all gone. So I immediately went to the website and ordered my free tickets for one of the many shows in Portland that were offering up free tickets for one night in October.

CoHo Productions' performance of The Receptionist by Adam Bock was the show that my friends and I selected for our free tickets. I thought it sounded like my life a little, since I work in HR and the office setting is often humorous, at least from my point of view. Humorous is good.

The intimate theater on NW Raleigh and 23rd was nearly full last night when I arrived, shortly before the play started. When the lights went down, the opening monologue started - bizarre, slow and very intriguing. I did not know what to make of it. I actually almost forgot about it when the lights came up on the office in the center of the room and the receptionist, on the phone, started talking. It was funny, realistic and then shockingly freaky. Just like my job sometimes. I LOVED it.

It reminded me how MUCH I love plays. I haven't been to a whole lot, but I did see Edward Norton in a play in New York City once that left me speechless for several hours and made me feel like I was punched in the stomach. Isn't it amazing how a performance can do that? I do love that feeling. What a great idea - this Free Night of Theater. It awakened my theater-going persona that was lost for a while.

Guess what? If you are reading this on October 17th, 18th or 19th, you might still have a chance to take advantage of the free theater tickets! Go to www.freenightoftheater.net, go to Find a Show, select Oregon (Portland). St. Johns North End Players are presenting The Butler Did It on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Click on the DETAILS button and reserve your tickets.

I've long been of the opinion that it is a sin not to take part in the incredible cultural opportunities that arise in our community. There is just something divine about the instinctive creation that takes place in music, theater, art, writing. It shows the depth to our souls I think.

CoHo Productions
www.cohoproductions.org
2257 NW Raleigh St.
Portland, OR

The Receptionist is playing until November 22nd. Please go!