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First Date by 6th @ Penn Theatre 
Working backwards from the slightly more traditional mating ritual, Mark (David Brannen) and Kurt (Greg Tankersley) have already gotten to know each other quite intimately, but they don't yet know each other's names. Or anything else about one another, for that matter, except that they have enjoyed their couple of meetings at the adult bookstore. Now suddenly Mark won't see Kurt again unless he agrees to meet him in Central Park and they take the time to get to know one another on some plane other than the physical.
Both David Brannen (Bill Snibson in Starlight's Me and My Girl) and Greg Tankersley (North Coast Rep's As Bees in Honey Drown) give excellent performances. David as the enthusiastic, talkative Mark who is determined to either develop this relationship into something more serious or end it. Greg is the quiet, private Kurt who has to have his feelings forcibly drawn out by the determined Mark. But simply the fact that Kurt showed up is a signal that he may be more willing to open up than he initially seems. This short one-act by Michael Conley unfolds pretty nicely and realistically as the two strangers -- yet not strangers -- attempt to break through those sometimes awkward get-to-know-you conversations (this one complicated even more by the fact that they already sort of know each other). Good humor makes the time seem to fly by, so you don't have to worry about getting drowsy as midnight nears. First Date is the first of the "Late Night" shows at 6th @ Penn Theatre, which begin at 10:30 p.m. (often after an earlier show has finished). Owners Dale Morris and Judith Montague hope to be able to use the late time slot as an additional outlet for local playwrights to present their new works to the San Diego theatre community. Rob Hopper San Diego Playbill ~ Cast ~
Mark: David Brannen Kurt: Greg Tankersley Playwright: Michael Conley Director: Jim Henderson Sound Designer: Ray Simard |