Ladies and Gents

EDITORIAL REVIEW 'Ladies & Gents' is based on a true 1950s tabloid scandal that once rocked Dublin to its conservative core. Set in the heated public restrooms at Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, 'Ladies & Gents' is presented in two 20-minute acts that play simultaneously in the women's and men's room. This site-specific thriller keeps audiences on a razor's edge of suspense, as it exposes the hypocrisy of a society plagued with rigid class attitudes, sexual secrecy and lies.
When I first head about the "Ladies and Gents" play presented by the Irish Arts Center I was a little more than intrigued. A play, set in 1950's Dublin? Performed in a public restroom? That sounds either really esoteric and weird, or really fucking cool. I must see this!
So, last night amidst the rain and bleak weather (very apropos i might add) I made my way to the Bethesda fountain in Central Park. I had no idea what to expect, and neither do I think did any of the other weather weary travelers who made the trek to the park either.
The play started with the "news vendor" standing atop the stairs at the entrance to the ladies/men's room giving us a brief introduction. Which didn't really reveal too much about what was in store for us except to implore us to not move from our assigned spots, and relieve management from any liability should anything go awry. Hmmm...okay, piquing my interest. Audience members where then each given an individual card. Some white, some black. I received a white card, my friend a black one. The color of our card deciding which half of the play we'd see first. We all exchanged nervous, dubious glances. What the hell have we gotten ourselves into, and why are we all being split from the friends we came here with? Okay, we're a roll with it kinda group, let's see where this leads.
The audience was then separated by their respective color cards, and half were escorted into the women's room (my first stop) and the other half the men's (my friend's first stop).
The "usher" led us in with a flashlight and pointed out a spot in front of each stall where we to stand, and NOT MOVE FROM OUR SPOT. ok, I can do that. I was then informed to make, extra sure I didn't move from my sort or in any way, shape or form block the stall to my right. I have to admit the emoticon over my head changed from "intrigued" to "anxious.
The play started and it was at first a little disconcerting as an audience member to be so close to the actors. It almost felt a little voyeuristic. Kind of like when you walk into someone else drama in real life and try really hard to look disinterested and rush away because you really don't want to get involved, even though secretly you wish you could stand to the side unobserved and see what happens (and hey I realized half way through the act I was actually getting to live that wish) But, once the first act started to unravel it was easier to relax and just enjoy the performance, even when the actor was standing directly next to me. (The aforementioned stall was an integral part the act, thank god I listened to the surly usher and didn't block it)
Once the first act ended, we were ushered back outside and lined up against one side of the wall, while the other half of the audience was lined up against the other half. I tried to communicate with my friend on the "other side" telepathically to find out what happened in their act, without being too obvious but to no avail.
Then it was time to see the second act, and we were ushered into the men's room. One old lady in my audience intoned upon entering, "god, it really smells like a urinal in here." To which I chucked, despite myself and said " yes, well I think that smell just adds to the scene ma'am." My humor fell flat with her.
After the second act, we were ushered back outside and reunited with our lost friends, to exchange notes.
Overall, I thought it was pretty damn cool. Very fly on the wall. Very time traveler, who can only observe a past event and not intervene in anyway so as not to disrupt the fabric of reality.
The story line was about prostitution, politicians, murder and suicide.Talk about universal themes. Some things never change huh? Needless to say I would not recommend this play to my friend Elliot, it might cut a little too close to the bone for him.
It was definitely a different experience and I would say the final verdict: The play set in the public restroom was pretty fucking cool. As different and out the box it was, it actually really worked well. The werid smells, puddles of dubious liquids, and crammed accomadations really added to the whole experience. When forced in the future to use a public restroom in NYC after one venti iced drink too many, it'll never be the same again!