Local Community Theater

On Saturday I had a chance to attend a new theater near downtown Medford. Here's some of what I liked: it's an intimate venue. All of the seats are good seats. The actors and support staff are volunteers; this results in a "for the people" theater, especially when you consider that the tickets only run $30 per couple. There's just a very warm feeling inside of this converted warehouse and you feel like you are part of the production.

When you enter, you have a chance to buy a raffle ticket that awards you "the best seat in the house," which is a sofa in the front row. That comes with popcorn and water if you win. I bought a ticket as a way to support the theater, but was telling my wife before the drawing that I didn't think the sofa would be as comfortable as the seat that I already occupied. Turns out, I was the only person who bought a ticket. The Director asked for other people to buy tickets just before the drawing, and one other person did so. As luck would have it, I was on the non-winning side of that 50% probability. (I may take that as a signal to stay away from lotto tickets, as well!)

My luck was way better for the quality of the play itself. The show that I saw, Scots on the Rocks, is just plain fun. It's a version of Macbeth that has come out of someone's keen sense of humor. In other words, exactly the sort of laughs that I can relate to. For example, when the blood starts to flow, the "stunt double" of Macbeth breaks out in a great adapted version of "Mack the Knife." The witches also sing and dance, and oracles appear in the form of Muppets. Macbeth is played by a 95-year-old actor and throughout the play there's humorous callbacks to his age.

There are three more plays next weekend, and new productions in the coming months. It's located about 2 blocks north of Porters Restaurant on the corner of Front and Third. Grab your friends and have some fun!

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