There have been a lot of shows,
random videos, and
shorts lately based on or inspired by videogames, so it was with a weary and reluctant heart that I watched Gamers, a freaking play of all things (Eww! Gross! Culture!). But this little one-man show had something all too many of the others don't. It was... God, what's that word again? I haven't used it in so long... Oh yeah, "
enjoyable." And not just enjoyable and funny, but well-made, obviously by a true gamer who cleverly wrote the play to work on two different levels, much like
Shrek appeals to kids and their parents in two very antithetic ways. So even if you don't know the agony of wiping in Molten Core because your priest ran out to the liquor store for a pack of cigarettes, you will still laugh. A lot.
The plot is as follows:
Tech-support operator Steve Jaros is overqualified, underpaid, and around-the-clock dealing with vacuous customers and his harpy of a boss. But little do Steve's coworkers know that he has been destined to save an entire kingdom from utter annihilation at the hands of an army of bloodthirsty elves, just as long as he gets the office's coffee rotation sorted out first.
If that sounds at all interesting, then hit the jump for details on the only West Coast performance before Gamers heads to NYC for all the fancy theater festivals. Even if you can't make it, I guarantee this won't be the last time you hear of Gamers, so you may want to become a fan now. That way in a year or two when everyone is buying it on DVD so Fox will uncancel the sitcom version you can say "Oh yeah, well I liked Gamers before anyone even knew what it was, n00bz!"
Gamers the play will be in San Diego one night only:
Tuesday, July 3rd, 8 p.m.
Lestat's West
3341 Adams Avenue, San Diego 92116
Contact Walter Meyer for more details or to make reservations. Try to arrive early so you have time to get a good seat. Seating is limited, but it's a short play and there will be standing room in the back. I've recommended they try herding all the larger audience members into a corner that way when they open up their grocery bags of food and snacks it won't be quite as annoying.
After this one special San Diego performance, Gamers moves to the Big Apple for two major theater festivals: Midtown Festival in July & the Fringe Festival in August.
Midtown details:
The Jewel Box Theater
312 W. 36th St., New York City
- Tues 7/17 6pm
- Wed 7/18 9:15pm
- Sat 7/21 6:30pm
- Thurs 7/26 7pm
- Mon 7/30 8pm
- Sat 8/04 3pm
Fringe Festival and additional details will be available on the Gamers site soon.
www.GAMERStheplay.com
See you in San Diego, Destructlings!
Contest:
6:41 PM on 06.22.2007
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As a side note, it was originally called "Out of Character" but since it's a play, there was a lot of confusion and eventually rioting as well as a few unsolved rapes which led to the new, far less interesting title.
FIELD TRIP! Get your permission slips in ASAP!
Because Oklahoma isn't really even a state... Is it?
Unless the School bus has a stop down here... My mom already said she would sign my permission slip & spot me some lunch money.