Appreciating live theater makes you sexier

What two countries border the U. S.? How many amendments are there to the Constitution? Can you name all the U.S. presidents who have been assassinated? If you can answer any of these, you are smarter than most Americans interviewed on the street in a popular YouTube video, “Young Americans Baffled by Simple Questions.” These folks are clubbing when they clearly need to be hitting the books.

I wasn’t great in school, but I loved theater, and while I can’t tell you all the war dates, I can certainly tell you how every tragic Shakespearean died. Poison in the ear, asp bite, multiple stab wounds and suffocation by pillow just to name some dramatic examples. Theater and film were my best education. Three reasons to come to our next play: 1. You will leave smarter and be able to impress your friends; 2. You will laugh; 3. You will be more attractive to people who find that smart is sexy.

Chaucer once said that it is important to be informative as well as entertaining. This holds true especially when it comes to matters of history, which can be as dry as toast unless properly presented. I’m pleased to invite you to the DAC for opening night of “The History of America (Abridged),” opening Friday with a three-weekend run. In honor of our great nation’s history, we will present to you some of the highlights through the lens of satire. From 1492 when Amerigo Vespucci set his Italian leather loafers on the shores of this beautiful land, to the 1775 American Revolution, the Bill O’ Rights just after, a few more wars, and voilà, here we are. But don’t take the history books literally – after all, they were written by the winners and bias is implied.

Call me cavalier, but I like to take my twisted history with a dash of irony and a cash bar. We will be doomed to repeat our lessons if we don’t learn from them, and what better way to contemplate progress than to let a talented group of actors deliver a rapid fire timeline of all the good, bad and ugly in a manageable and entertaining way? It’s a small cast and crew but the play is mighty: This three-handed play is acted by local talent Geoff Johnson, Brian Devine, and Jason Lythgoe. It’s directed by Wendy Ludgewait and tech and prop managed by Sophia Kothe. Come see for yourself and allow these thespians to ease your sociopolitical burden by putting things in perspective. If you were here last year for “The History of Shakespeare, (Abridged),” then you know what this is about: a rollicking and thought-provoking good time that will help make you a better conversationalist and interesting person. There’s really nothing sexier, in my opinion, than a critical thinker who can carry on an engaging conversation and make me laugh. I married the person who was best at it and we’ve been going strong for a quarter of a century. That’s 25 years if you can’t do fractions. Be sexy … go see live theater.

Email info@durangoarts.org Buy tickets, donate, become a member, register for classes, and keep in touch at DurangoArts.org.

Brenda Macon has been executive director of Durango Arts Center since 2018.