July 21-27, 2005

artpicks

Hang 10

by Karen Williams

theater

Animals and male anatomy. What topics can be more fun? There may be two small themes going on in a selection of shows at the often-absurd 10th annual Delaware 10-Minute Play Festival, but you be the judge.

First, the animals: On Wednesday night, an elephant debuts as a playwright when he is asked to write what he knows ("The Famous Elephant Play"). Also that evening, three caretakers at the animal-testing laboratory, whose sole job is to make sure the specimens stay alive, think it would be fun to drop acid. Things go awry when one bunny falls ill ("Mr. Bix #6"). On Thursday, one cat is missing, and all that's left is a mess on the floor and one suspicious looking blender ("Menagerie" by 10-time 10-Minute playwright John Dorf).

Then, the male anatomy: On Wednesday, a Hollywood writer and a director brainstorm ideas for an erectile dysfunction commercial. Possible iconography: a bobbing rubber ducky or an Italian landmark ("The Leaning Tower of Pisa"). On Thursday, two homophobic men embark on a fishing trip and discover the only thing they have to fear is themselves ("I Am Joe's Prostate").

Even though similarities may link some of the shows, there's sure to be a wide range of inspiration at this short-play romp, coordinated by City Theater's Tom Shade, which runs four nights, with five different 10-minute comedies performed each night. Last winter, Shade helped to select the best and wackiest short plays for the festival from a record 413 submissions from 33 states, plus Washington, D.C., Canada, Ireland and Hong Kong.

10-Minute Play Festival, Tue.-Fri., July 26-29, 8 p.m. (pre-show entertainment begins at 7 p.m.), $12 ($35 for four-night pass), Baby Grand Theatre, 818 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del., 800-37-GRAND.