From outside, The Brick Playhouse is more reminiscent of a halfway house, than a theater. It's a hole in the wall -- a doorway sandwiched in between a defunct South Street bar and what a Walmart would be if it were located in the fifth circle of hell. There is no sign, let alone a marquis. There is not even a small placard painted by one of their "arty" friends. Just a door littered by small flyers proclaiming tonight's performers, The Dive. Welcome to experimental theater, no one's day job.
Somewhere in between high school productions of South Pacific and off-off Broadway is The Brick Playhouse. It is a small group of individuals dedicated to the fostering of new and experimental theater in Philadelphia. Their focus is more on the creation of new theater, than on the production itself. Their small theater -- max capacity of around 80 (and that is with people sitting on the floor) -- is the most telling. It is flanked by two brick walls, so assumedly the price tag read "as is," since this company could not afford to redecorate. But the bricks are cool in the summer. And in the dark, the brick is a as black as a gold plated wall or a mural-covered ceiling. The small, unadorned theater says these people are not here for the money (It would be surprising if they even turn a profit.). But pay ten dollars and one will find burgeoning talent mixed with mediocrity in a warm elixir suitable for both those thirsting for grassroots theater and an inexpensive cultural outing, alike.
Last Saturday, The Dive -- an actor run comedy troupe based out of the The Brick Playhouse -- took stage. They performed a slew of comedy sketches -- following a format similar to that of Saturday Night Live, -- with a guest host and a musical guest . With the freedom afforded the cozy, comfortable environment, the writers of The Dive pushed the boundaries of taste. The content of the sketches ranged from the invention of the meatball to the murder of a prostitute to an ambiguously gay basketball coach, all sprinkled with a healthy dose of blow job references. The Dive's sketches, quite like its SNL predecessor, were hit and miss, but overall, the actors were engaging and made up for the, at times, derivative material. Since last Saturday's show was merely a warm-up for the upcoming Fringe Festival, the troupe will not perform again until early August.
The Brick Playhouse remains active, however, with playwriting workshops and G.O.T (Guaranteed Overnight Theatre) -- a creative exercise forcing a group of thespians to write, rehearse and finally perform a live piece in a 24 hour period. The Brick Playhouse is thus a commendable institution, bringing the creative process to the public and making theater more accessible, even if one can't find the door to get in.
