Welcome back to another installment of FRIGID New York Festival 2011 Q&A! We’ll be running these throughout February, so be sure to check back to read all about the great shows that will be taking part in the festival. Also – don’t miss the winner-take-all game of Rock Paper Scissors! Today’s Q&A is withBen Thompson, Playwright of F*#king Girls.
A hilarious and misguided romantic fantasy about a young man “sleeping” his way through his ex-girlfriends en route to find true love, with a couple of major speed bumps along the way.
F*#king Girls featuring Carolyn Gilliam & Ben Thompson (Photo by Andrew Bisdale)
answers by Ben Thompson, Playwright
Antonio Asks: What makes FRIGID such a warm and welcoming experience for your production?
The Frigid Festival offers me my very first opportunity to have a full production of my play mounted, and for that Frigid will always hold a very warm place in my heart. I’m very excited and eager to be a part of this festival and be given such an opportunity to share my artistic voice, especially here in New York City.
Diánna Asks: What about this play do you feel most drawn to personally, and because of that, what message do you hope the audience walks away with?
This play is a lot of fun and I actually found myself laughing out loud while writing it. I suppose what drew me to write it is just how confusing and absurd love can be… and how seriously we tend to take it. I can be particularly guilty of taking myself too seriously and that’s usually when I get myself into the biggest messes. It’s not until I step back and look at my actions that I realize how much of a total fool I’ve been. I’ve made some of the biggest mistakes in my life when I’ve tried to fight or deny an answer that is right in front of me, staring me in the face. That being said, I’d like audiences to walk away from this play knowing that when you’re happy, be happy and don’t worry about how happy you could be.
Karen Asks: That’s some title. How did you come up with it – and what does it mean?
The title is most often your first encounter with a play and I wanted mine to make a statement. We’re not pulling our punches in this production.
Stephen Asks: You must have a favorite part of your show. What makes it your favorite?
I’d say Soriah (one of James’ girlfriends). I’ve never dated anyone with an entourage of hippie midgets. But I think I’ve come dangerously close.
Lina Asks: How much of your show was inspired by true events?
I’d say about 20 percent. All of the women are based on real people, although in most cases their personalities have been greatly enlarged. I took the essence of girls I’ve known and ran from there.
THM Bonus Question: If you could play a virtual game of Rock, Paper, Scissors with another FRIGID Show which show would you take on? And what would you throw?
I’d take on I Love you (We’re F*#cked) for obvious reasons. I’d throw the scissors. I always throw scissors.
Thanks F*#king Girls - for participating in The Happiest Medium’s FRIGID New York Festival 2011 Q&A. And for playing our game! You’re officially SCISSORS. Here’s how you’ve stacked up so far:
Challenger Year of the Slut threw SCISSORS = TIE
Challenger Yippie threw PAPER = YOU CUT THEM TO RIBBONS!!! WINNER!!
You Challenge I Love You (We’re F*#cked) and they DIDN’T THROW! = YOU WIN AGAIN!!!
You emerge the champion – two (and a half) out of three times!!!! DING DING DING!
This is how it works in the crazy world of the VIRTUAL ROCK PAPER SCISSORS TOURNAMENT!
Meanwhile, for the rest of you – don’t forget to check out F*#king Girls!
F*#king GirlsWritten by Ben Thompson & Directed by Paul Leopold
Presented by My Lieges Brooklyn, NY
The Kraine Theater (95 East 4th Street) $10 Wed 2/23 @ 6pm, Sat 2/26 @ 4pm, Wed 3/2 @ 7:30pm, Sat 3/5 @ 1pm, & Sun 3/6 @ 5:30pm
FRIGID New York Festival 2011 will run February 23-March 6 at The Kraine Theater & The Red Room (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Ave and Bowery) and UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1sr Ave and Ave A). Tickets ($10-$16) may be purchased online at www.FRIGIDnewyork.info or by calling Smarttix at 212-868-4444. All shows will run 60 minutes long or less.
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