A Putin/Snowden Locker Room Pairing: PUTIN AND THE SNOWMAN by Robert Kerbeck

By Gini Chang

Gini Chang

Critics of international politics have had the vast canvas of the Internet to paint their complaints and opinions upon. These criticisms come in the form of text, image, and even video.  For example, in countries such as the US, people have the privilege of being able to Google “Putin memes” and seeing hundreds of thousands of pictures that make fun of Russia’s President. Many of these images have been deemed so offensive that they’re illegal in Russia for portraying a political figure in a negative way. In America, however, political cartoonists are protected by the first amendment that gives them freedom of expression-the right to make fun of whoever they want. 

That’s why America is praised as the country of freedom, because artists, political dissenters and combinations of the two are are able to create work that is uncensored, even if censorship would benefit the government. In fact, there are many things our government isn’t allowed to do- restricting citizens’ rights being only one- and that is why America represents a land of freedom and opportunity when compared with more oppressive governments in countries such as China, North Korea, and Russia. America is a country in which anyone who has an opinion is free to speak. However, on July 21st, 2013, a man named Edward Snowden was charged with theft of government property and Violation of the Espionage Act because while working for the CIA, he discovered classified information about how the National Security Agency was searching through private emails and instant messages as well as tracking cell phones of citizens who were completely unaware of this broach in privacy. After leaking this information to the press, he has fled the country to avoid prosecution. Ironically enough, Snowden was granted asylum by the Russian government. In the midst of this scandal, America was left wondering what could possibly become of this strange alliance between Snowden and Russia. Snowden has been called both hero and traitor for his actions, but his rebellion against his country’s government seems to go against everything that the meme banning Russian government is trying to achieve. 

In Putin and the Snowman, Robert Kerbeck explores a fascinating relationship between Snowden and Putin by placing both characters in a sweaty hockey locker room. Putin is the star player of the hockey team and Snowden is his new social media consultant. Watching Putin and Snowden’s strange interactions, the audience gets to see the figure of Putin in a new perspective, as well as understand his flawless reasoning of why he decided to take Edward Snowden under his wing. Kerbeck’s take on their politically charged relationship is hilarious and thoughtfully crafted. 

What’s your favorite Putin meme? Are he and Snowden meant to be? Comment below or tweet us @RiantTheatre and come see Robert Kerbeck’s Putin and the Snowman at the Strawberry One Act Festival on Saturday, July 16th at 3pm; Tuesday, July 19th at 7pm; Wednesday, July 20th at 9pm; and Thursday, July 21st at 9pm at the St. Clements Theatre: 423 West 46^th St, NYC between 9^th and 10^th Ave.

Sex Toys and In-Laws- Peter Carrozzo’s NSFW play THE G69 TRIPLE XTREME OSCILLATOR

By Gini Chang

Gini Chang

What happens when you’re in your mid 30’s, two kids and counting, and having difficulties keeping that flame burning in the bedroom? These sort of problems used to plague couples who felt that it was too improper of a subject to discuss, but don’t worry, it’s not a taboo to talk about bedroom play anymore. 

In fact, popular TV shows such as Game of 

Thrones and Orange is the New Black are crammed full of nudity and sexually explicit scenes. Nowadays, there’s even a whole museum- The Museum of Sex, also known as MoSex- that is dedicated to unraveling the intricate mysteries of enjoyable intercourse and the gift shop is filled with books of advice and a variety of equipment to spice things up with your partner.

Before you even begin to mess with any of the many sex toys being sold online and in stores, of course, anyone could tell you that communication is the first step in having a healthy and successful love life. Remember the universal parental advice? “If you’re not ready to discuss it, you’re not ready to do it”. In Peter Carrozzo’s play, The G69 Triple Xtreme Oscillator, our mid 30’s couple Wendy and Simon have done more than just discussion. Simon has gone online and ordered their very first sex toy, the G69 Triple Xtreme Oscillator. But the worst case scenario has befallen them, for in the hustle and bustle of household activities, Wendy accidentally left in plain sight the extremely graphic instruction manual of the G69 Triple Xtreme Oscillator which her mother in law may or may not have perused. And she might have come to her own conclusions about Wendy and Simon’s not so private life. 


How will the couple deal with this new disaster, and what effect will it have on their marriage and/or sex life? Interested in seeing more of Wendy and Simon’s heated discussions? If you have your own embarrassing story about sex, in-laws, or the awfully brilliant combination of the two, comment below or tweet us @RiantTheatre and come see Peter Carrozzo’s The G69 Triple Xtreme Oscillator playing at the Strawberry One Act Festival on Thursday, July 14^th at 9pm; Sunday, July 17^th at 5pm; Tuesday, July 19^th at 9pm at St. Clements Theatre: 423 West 46^th St, NYC between 9^th and 10^th Ave.

Sharp Turns in Life-THE WAITRESS by Ainslie Caswell

By Gini Chang

Gini Chang

Recently, I went to visit my old high school. It had been a few years and I wanted to reconnect with the teachers who inspired me.  I was confiding in one particular teacher, who I'd known for all four years of my high school career and was extremely close to, about how uncertain I was feeling about my future. We were chatting about college life and I shared with her the anxieties about my major, the plans that I’ve made, and the ever-looming possibilities of failure that all artists worry about. I was assuming that she had experienced something similar in her own college days and might have had some words of wisdom to impart upon me, to reassure me. Instead, the teacher I’d known since freshman year leaned closer and confessed to me in a conspiratorial whisper that she was considering quitting her job-if not next year, then the year after. 

This news surprised me because I’m the kind of person who sees high school as a constant. In my mind, I could go back in 10 years and still expect my old teachers to be teaching in the same classrooms where I once sat. It never occurred to me that they would ever leave. She admitted that it wasn’t to retire; she’d only been teaching for a little over 20 years and was nowhere near retirement. No, what she had decided was that her career as a teacher was over and that she was ready, at this point of her life, to start something new. And she laughed and smiled at me before saying, “I’m also like you, a rising college junior, still figuring out where I’m going.”

Ainslie Caswell’s play, The Waitress, is about the simple and mundane everyday life in a very special café that will serve its customers whatever they want. Whatever drink, whatever dish, anything you want will be served and will always satisfy. This unique setting, however, isn’t even the most interesting part of the play. Watching the characters realize that they have more power than they ever expected to have and observing their struggle when making decisions is what makes this play potent. 

Waitress: You have the power. What you do with that power is up to you.

Caswell uses seemingly ordinary places and people, but creates extraordinary moments that remind us that anything can happen. Sometimes we suffer tunnel vision and forget that our position in life is our very own creation, that we can recreate a new position just as easily. This feeling of uncertainty while on your path in life is actually shared by everyone else around you, even if it may seem like someone is rooted and stable. Caswell understands that everyone’s path in life is constantly shifting and uncertain. The Waitress is an inspiration, reminding the audience that we have the power to choose whatever we want in our lives. 


Have your own anxieties about the future? Thinking about a career change? What sorts of new things do you feel empowered to try? Comment below or tweet us @RiantTheatre and don’t forget to come experience Ainslie Caswell’s The Waitress for yourself at the Strawberry One Act Festival on Sunday, July 17^th at 9pm; Tuesday, July 19^{th at} at 9pm; and Wednesday, July 20^th at 9pm at St. Clements Theatre: 423 West 46^th St, NYC between 9^th and 10^th Ave.

FAMILY GOOGLING by Mark Tjarks-Deleting Trump’s Twitter and other Internet stories

By Gini Chang

Gini Chang

The Internet is an extremely useful resource for me and for everyone else who is reading this. We all benefit from it with our computers and phones, Tweeting and Instagram-ing, even if many of us-including me- don’t exactly know how the internet works. 


Last year, the Republican party’s Presidential nominee Donald Trump stated that in order to stop terrorists from recruiting Americans he wanted to “see Bill Gates and...talk to them about, maybe in certain areas, closing that Internet up”. Despite saying that, Trump has continued to use his Twitter account to voice his opinions on current events and spar with other political figures. 

Overall, the efficiency of the internet has changed more than just modern politics. Now there are YouTube stars who earn money just by being popular, there are Linkedin accounts that headhunters can sift through when searching for someone to fill a job vacancy, and the average every day person can share text as well as pictures to update their social networks about what’s going on in their lives. 

My favorite Food Network star's snapchat

Not only can everything be shared with anyone at anytime, but everything that is shared also leaves a record. In fact, our private information is easily accessible, we shared it ourselves, and that can be a little scary sometimes. It’s no surprise that there are privacy issues and updates every once in a while on giant networks such as Facebook, Instagram, or even Snapchat-a mobile phone app that allows users to send each other pictures that supposedly disappear in ten seconds. Even those pictures, believed to be gone, are saved in Snapchat’s database and 2 years ago, 200,000 of those photos were leaked. 

However, that hasn’t stopped the 1.65 billion Facebook users and 433 million LinkedIn users from broadcasting their personal information for the public to see. I bet that with just my first and last name, anyone reading this can find my Facebook profile at the very least. The immediacy with which one can access information is terrifying at times, but also incredible.


Mark Tjarks’ play, Family Googling, is about 17 years old Becca who is having dinner with her mother, her mother’s boyfriend, and her mother’s old friend. Becca’s mother has many concerns about her attachment to her cell phone and her new girlfriend (emphasis on the girl). But Becca has no concerns, and though her eyes never leave her phone, she is constantly paying keen attention to the adult conversations going on around her. She is so interested, in fact that she begins to use her phone to learn more about the past of her dinner guests, keep up with the conversation, and engage more with the people around her. However, Family Googling isn’t just about the Internet or the information that can be easily accessed, it’s about the very human relationships that exist as they always have, despite the changes that have been created by technology. 

Worried about your privacy settings? Or maybe have some tips for people like me who still have no idea what the Internet is? Comment below or tweet us at @RiantTheatre (so then we will be able to find you) and come see Mark Tjark’s Family Googling at the Strawberry One Act Festival on Saturday, July 16^th at 1pm; Sunday, July 17^th at 3pm; and Thursday, July 21^st at 7pm at St. Clements Theatre: 423 West 46^th St, NYC between 9^th and 10^th Ave.

THE OLD STATES by Lain Kienzle-Snowed in With a Stranger

By Gini Chang

Gini Chang

‘Tis the season of summer flings, but the 90+ degree heat these days has me fantasizing about winter more and more. Then again, I’ve always been more of a winter lover. When it’s snowing terribly outside I can snuggle under blankets with a hot beverage and a good book. Then in the morning I can peek outside to see the beautiful landscape. It’s been said that snow takes an environment that you are familiar with and recreates it until you no longer recognize where you are.

In Lain Kienzle’s play The Old States, two young adults living in the countryside meet in the midst of a heavy snowstorm. Mildred, a 25 year old who is home alone with nothing to protect her but a rolling pin, finds a collapsed George on her front porch and drags him into her home to save him. They both turn out to be extremely lucky judges of character. 

GEORGE: Nice to meet you ma’am. Thank you for abducting me and holding me hostage inside your lovely kitchen.

George is a friendly, teasing young man, but evasive when Mildred questions his origins and motives for travelling in a snowstorm. Nevertheless, Mildred is a compassionate host who would rather make tea than kick out her mysterious guest.

Mysteries, however, were made to be solved. Buried in snow and with no one else around for miles, something about being in the presence of a stranger makes them feel safe and as the night continues, Mildred and George discover each other’s unexpected secrets.

Does the idea of a wintery field of snow bring back memories for you? Want to know more about what Mildred and George are hiding? Comment below or tweet us @RiantTheatre and come see Lain Kienzle’s play The Old States at the Strawberry One Act Festival on Friday, July 15^th at 7pm; Sunday, July 17^th at 7pm; and Saturday July 23^rd at 1pm at the St. Clements Theatre: 423 West 46^th St, NYC between 9^th and 10^th Ave.
                                     

Putting Down Painkillers-A CHRONIC LINE by Adrian Miranda

Gini Chang

By Gini Chang

I have immense respect for those who are able withstand dental surgery without full anesthesia. Even when there’s partial anesthesia, I don’t think that would be enough. Just the thought of staying awake while I know someone is drilling into my teeth as if there’s oil hidden somewhere beneath my gums is starting to make me feel uncomfortable. Since childhood, it’s been a known fact that trips to dentists, doctors, and other adults with an MD after their name will cause extreme pain. And as children, we would do anything to avoid those trips because we were afraid of the pain.

While doctors were mistakenly associated with pain, my younger and less intelligent self was making at least one correct association. Pain relief soon became associated with our local CVS pharmacy. Allergy medicine, cough drops, and painkillers never failed to bring relief to me as well as my family members whenever one of us was suffering.

That’s why I never thought badly of prescription drugs. They were always there to back me up, to support me and help ease any ailments or pain that I happened to encounter. I had chronic migraines in high school and painkillers my constant ally for many years, until my doctor discovered that excessive use of painkillers was actually causing the continuation of my migraines instead of alleviating the pain. Since then, I’ve been adjusting to a painkiller free lifestyle.

Abuse of painkillers and prescription drugs in general have been an ongoing problem for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Just a few months ago, we lost the great actor and singer Prince, who died of an overdose of prescription opioids.
Opioids have been the go to treatment for patients suffering from various illnesses, from back pain to terminal cancer. Perhaps you recognize the names of different kinds of opioids such as morphine, oxycodone, or the illegal derivation: heroin. Needless to say, opioids can become extremely addictive which is why the government has been working together with medical practitioners in order to implement new opioid prescribing guidelines as well as increase funding for addiction treatment. And their main focus to prevent further increase of opioid addiction is to provide treatment that can take the place of these prescription drugs. 

Adrian Miranda’s musical, A Chronic Line, stems from his own experiences as a physical therapist and gives the audience a special peek into the lives of his patients, all of whom are suffering from different kinds of chronic pain. Their physical ailments also cause problems in their personal lives and negatively affect their relationships with families and lovers. In today’s world of modern medicine and pharmaceutical cocktails, the more difficult and time-consuming treatment methods such as physical therapy are often overlooked. However, Dr. Adrian reminds both his patients and the audience of the benefits of physical therapy. 

          Have any chronic pain stories you’d like to share as well? Curious as to how physical therapy will be able to help you? It’s never too late to learn more about how to keep your body healthy and feeling good! Comment below or tweet us @RiantTheatre and come see A Chronic Line by Adrian Miranda at the Strawberry One Act Festival on Sunday, July 24^th at 7pm and Tuesday July 26^th at 10:30pm in the Theatre at St. Clement’s, 423 West 46th St, NYC.

Grindr, Brexit, and Bots-REALITY SUCKS by Sonia Cordoves

By Gini Chang

Gini Chang

            The most fascinating thing about online dating sites is that a good portion of the users are either uninterested in finding partners and on the site to mess with other users, or computer programs that are masquerading as a human being. If you have yet to encounter a chatbot on the Internet, congratulations on being one of the lucky few who have been spared. Bots are now a part of about 60% of all Internet traffic, which includes dating sites. These computer programs create profiles on Tinder or OKCupid with fake pictures and try to strike up genuine human conversations in order to get the real users to give up credit card numbers or other private information.

            Even if you’re lucky enough to get a real person to match with you on these dating sites, however, chances are your match is just someone taking advantage of the fact that about 15% of American adults use online dating sites. Recently, it’s been found that 1/3 of dating site users have never actually gone on a date with any of the users they met online. There are just too many people who aren’t actually taking dating sites seriously. For example, Scotsman Tom Court recently went on Grindr-a hook up mobile app for gay and bisexual men- to survey users in and around Edinburgh about their opinion on the EU Referendum.

And ironically enough, while spamming Grindr users with his polling, Court also came upon some bots. It seems as if there’s no escape from falsehood when it comes to online dating.

            Sonia Cordoves’ play, Reality Sucks, is the lament of good, honest, dating site users who just want to find the perfect match that is somewhere out there. The problems that her characters encounter when they try to meet up with their date for the first time are real, genuine problems faced by dating site users all over the world.

            Do you have a fun Tinder story? Ever outsmarted a bot before? Have an opinion on Brexit that you’d like to share? Comment below or tweet us @RiantTheatre. And be sure to come see Sonia Cordoves’ characters meet in person for the first time ever in Reality Sucks to find out how their date goes. Reality Sucks will be playing in the Strawberry One Act Festival on Saturday, July 16th at 1pm;
Monday, July 18th at 7pm; and
 Thursday, July 21st at 9pm in the Theatre at St. Clement’s, 423 West 46th St, NYC.