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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Theater "This Is (Mostly) True, Mike Daisey"

Posted by Brendan Kiley on Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 11:27 AM

This Is (Mostly) True, Mike Daisey, a 15-minute monologue by Mallery Avidon (with a little help from Tim Smith-Stewart) was filmed last night in a Seattle apartment, in front of a small audience. It has a little to do with the whole Shenzhen mess, plus the experience of working with Mike Daisey in a playwriting group.

But, like all good stories, it goes in many directions. Avidon tells her autobiographical story while Smith-Stewart stands behind her, "fact-checking" as she goes:

(In the monologue, there's a mention of a stage direction Avidon once wrote in one of her plays, describing the staff of The Stranger, which she says was "mean" to the staff of The Stranger. I happened to be there for the filming last night and asked her to read the "mean" stage direction. She did. It wasn't actually that mean. Also, I hope some of you enjoy the tiny Gertrude Stein-repetition joke. It's a little obscure, but a sweet little gem if you look for it.)

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Comments (6) RSS

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Oh hey, I wrote and filmed 15 minute monologue about how good I feel about not watching this. Can I just send you the link or is there a submission process?

Posted by Skip on March 28, 2012 at 11:50 AM

am I the only person who absolutely hates the use of the phrase "on accident"?

Posted by bort on March 28, 2012 at 12:27 PM

That was great. Thank you, Brendan.

Posted by Sandiai on March 28, 2012 at 5:15 PM

Absolutely no way to define Daisey's "theater" as anything but self-serving nonsense, propaganda pathologically designed to improve the secret wretched self-image of a glutton with nary the discipline to manage a meal and/or exercise plan, the least a "professional" actor might do in support of his "instrument," let alone to manage the creative synthesis of fact and fiction toward the development of valid, transcendent art. He's bloated himself and his wallet with empty calories, empty stories and vacuous lies, and our unwarranted attention. No more than a hustler.

Posted by JoeBob Obvious on March 28, 2012 at 5:20 PM

This is great, although I agree with @2.

Posted by Canadian Nurse on April 7, 2012 at 6:03 AM

This is what’s called the lowest level of opportunism that there is. Trying to cash on Mike’s misfortune. Why didn’t she say something while Mike was famous? I bet that she kissed his ass than. And how lookie. She’s kissing someone else’s ass. Don’t try missy. Unlike Mike you got no talent. And this parasitic opportunism doesn’t create art and or good theater. It creates slime. Slime, slime every where. This world is full of slime and slimy people.

Posted by dona on July 17, 2012 at 9:07 PM