A cheeky one night stand?

De Nieuwe Anita, this February, played host to Playground 3’s ‘One Night Stand’ - one-act plays not all sexually charged, as one might expect from the title, but each with a hint of cheek and intrigue.

The opening vaudeville ‘Nap Time’ chronicled the collision between two old rockers over the discovery of a corpse. A tongue in cheek performance which didn’t explode with laughter but did pop and crackle with high jinks. The ‘Seven men of Hanukkah’ offered a highly awkward situation. Katharina, a cat loving eccentric, is desperate to meet a guy. She initiates an audition process with only one casting role and only one casting hopeful (Brian). As their stories unfold, one couldn’t help but be won over by the charming ending. Closing the first half, Quin Mero’s direction of ‘Remote’ by Eric Coble was raucously received by all. Via the offstage television, we discover their hotel room neighbour is in an active hostage situation (cue gunfire). Their perverse desires and indiscretions are revealed: one unashamedly gets-off on the appeal of having a ‘scrolling news reel’ of her life, while the performances of both women at a channel change moment - and the discovery a pornography video - made the audience squeal with laughter.

The closing show ‘Pillow Talk’, written by Peter Tolan, was directed by Ben Evans (one star of ‘Nap Time’). Set in Arizona, on a double bed, in a mobile home, the limited space and allusion of heat added to the rising tensions between Charlie Bird and Chris Grabski’s, whose snappy acting made the perfect double act for this narrative. This final intimate act between two friends was fun, quick witted and suitably uncomfortable. It definitely stole the show!

It is a hilarious tale of trading places and self reflection. Doug’s immediate discomfort on sharing a bed with his friend is apparent: as the apoplectic guest, he unexpectedly reveals his fear of physical contact. Annoying Aaron, by persistently interrupting his attempts to sleep, he ends up taking a profound journey of self discovery and puts his own neuroses and homosexual insecurities onto Aaron. Replacing his flippant teasing of Doug, Aaron is left wide-eyed and unsettled as he faces the prospect of having to explain himself to his grandmother in the morning, and to avoid the shaming of being called ‘gay’. Throughout the believable verbal sparring, between lights on-light off (a clever cue idea), the animated interplay between the bantering twenty-something friends was brilliant.

Beneath this veneer there may be a more subtle discussion about masculinity. For instance, what are our comfort levels when talking about sexuality and identity - have 85% of boys really had a homosexual experience? - and how would we honestly react when faced with ‘sexual’ behaviors as an adult, even if it is a harmless hug in your underwear with your travel buddy in the middle of the night?

Experience the comedic merits of ‘Pillow Talk’ for yourself.
The show will be coming back in April (24-26) to the CC Amstel, produced by QETC in collaboration with Downstage Left, and with the same outstanding cast of Charlie Bird and Chris Grabski. 
This play will be presented in a double bill with a soon-to-be-announced piece by Alan Bennett.
Go to www.qetc.nl for tickets on sale end from the end of February.