Downstairs Lady Theater – Analog Artist Digital World

Downstairs Lady Theater Productions will be presenting, I Should’ve Just Married David Neilson, written by Carol Jacqueline Palumbo and directed by Mikaela A. Duffy. The show will be at the third annual Tampa International Fringe Festival. Carol also played the leading role of a blogger tapping away at her computer. Her roommate and BFF (Lizzie Reynolds) helped Carol from feeling like she might be getting into a writer’s rut. The two had clearly gone through much together, with their friendship weathering the storms of a crazy dating scene. As Carol got emotional about all the jerks she had dated, her BFF advised her to write those thoughts down. The only thing Carol had a harder time with, besides her writer’s block, was her love life. So why not combine the two, and make it SUPER painful!

Carol’s first love, was David Neilson in Kindergarten. He told Carol’s mom that he had a thing for blue eyed brunettes,
and to Carol’s Stepford, Connecticut family, a statement like that was an
obvious declaration of everlasting love and marital intent. Things
didn’t work out that way.

A disastrous first kiss was hilarious in its slobbery details, followed by online dating, really bad dates, and even worse sex. Carol uses her humor to navigate through treacherous perils. There were plenty of trolls along the way, but this was not your typical fairy tale. This modern day Cinderella takes you on a journey through the good, the bad, and the “What the Actual F***?!” to finding love and perhaps a happily ever after. Stage Manager, Morgan Polodna, played audio snippets of guys insipid and disgusting pick up lines, which made Carol, and both Pam and I, smile. It was the first time Carol had heard this element of the show.

Things got really dark as Carol related the details of being drugged and date raped. Her emotions were visceral and raw, and very real because perhaps this wasn’t just acting, but reliving a horrible truth. This scene really hit hard. I don’t think I have ever experienced theater that was that heartfelt. I particularly identified with her as a blogger, and she shared her thoughts online in all their intense rage. The overwhelming response from friends and people she didn’t even know, was a reminder that none of us are going through this life experience alone. As Carol said to herself, “You could give girls hope that a sense of humor could be your glass slipper of of this hell hole.”

A warm hug to this amazing show and cast. As I worked, I suddenly realized I had left my paint brushes at home. I had to resort to finger painting to finish up the sketch. It kind of made sense to slip back into finger painting mode since Carol’s first kindergarten love was so central to the show. Carol reminded me that I have sketched her in seven different shows over the years. Sadly, she is leaving Central Florida, so this will likely be the last time I will sketch one of her performances. Her bright flame will light up the next arts scene she becomes a part of.

The show opens tonight May 2, 2019 at HCC Rehearsal Hall on the Corner of Palm Ave and East 14th Street Tampa Florida.

Tickets are $10 with a $4.50 fee.

Thursday, May 2: 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 4: NOON

Sunday, May 5: 3:00 p.m.

Friday, May 10: 10:45 p.m.

Saturday, May 11: 8:00 p.m.

Downstairs Lady Theatre presents The Early Girl written by Caroline Kava. Directed by Vicki Wicks, the play focuses on Lily, (Kelly Solberg), who plans to work at the brothel just a month
in order to secure a solid financial foundation for her daughter,
Dolly. She enters the brothel insecure and shy but with ambitions to make plenty of money. Jewel Box House Madam Lana (Dianna Bennett) believes in Lilly and encourages her, believing she will break records her first year in the house. Lana was once a working girl herself but now she runs her own establishment and she has only a few rules, no cell phones, only leave the house once a month for a “Doctor Day” and no violence.

This play doesn’t sensationalize the sex industry, instead it delved
into these women’s hopes dreams and lost aspirations. The setting is the
waiting area between Johns. The women pass the time reading and
chatting. The brothel setting is surprisingly domestic, a quiet suburban living room. The rehearsal I attended was in a Winter Garden home adding to the surreal domesticity.

Pam Schwartz came along with me to chaperone. I felt like Toulouse Lautrec sketching brothel life. While I struggled with the sketch, I heard her laughing at the off hand exchanges between the women on stage. The play is both comic and tragic. Lilly is mentored and advised by the more established girls. Jean (Carol Jacqueline Palumbo) who is a smart woman who once thought she was only going to earn some extra money and get out, but now she feels close to hitting rock bottom and Pat (Kat Kemmet) who uses her earnings to buy frivolous personal items, Laurel (April Tubbs) is hardened and keeps to herself reading but she sends the money back to her child in Spokane. George (Dina Najjar) has a regular customer named Eric who she feels may one day ask her to marry him. Each woman has their personal reasons for what they do and each has a heart of gold.

The Early Girls ambitions get out of hand when she takes Eric, George’s regular to bed and kisses him which is in itself an infraction. George goes ballistic and a no hold barred cat fight ensues. Of course violence is against the house rules, and the girls have to stick together to keep from being broken apart. Though there are differences, they care about each other. As an outsider looking in, we get to care about each woman in turn as well. Though in an industry that might seem dis-empowering, these women are empowered.

The show is now at Tampa Fringe.

HCC Studio Theatre

1411 E 11th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605

The remaining show dates are,

Thurs May 10 at 9pm,

Sat May 12 at 3pm

Tickets are $14.50

If you don’t want to make the drive to Tampa, the show is coming to Breakthrough Theater 419 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. This would be a great way to extend your Orlando International Fringe experience.
June 1-2 at 8pm
June 3 at 3pm and 8pm
Tickets are $12 General Admission
$10 for Breakthrough Alumni