Theatre has never been so accessible

For any and all who like the idea of theatre but shy away from getting all dressed up and acting proper, the Top Floor Theatre invites you to curl up on a cozy couch and enjoy their productions, all for $8 or less.

Company 13 (motto: "Young. Brash. Unafraid. Theatre.") presents all kinds of works, ranging from Shakespeare's lighthearted A Midsummer Night's Dream to William Mastrosimone's frightening Extremities at the Top Floor Theatre, a large but cozy setting. Seats consist of sofas and comfy chairs closely packed, almost to the point where the house and the stage are indistinguishable. The proximity of the performers to the audience eliminates the need for microphones; there is no fancy lighting. The audience is greeted, "Welcome to our living room."

The atmosphere is very casual but not to the point where you would be comfortable showing up in sweats or pajamas. You can, however, bring your own food and drink to enjoy during the performance or purchase candy, popcorn, soda, coffee or bottled water, all for the price of $1 each.

If you come on the right night, you might even be asked to join in the show. The Twenty-Four Experiment is an open event where "up to 40 actors, writers and directors have up to 24 hours to create six new 15 minute plays."

Participation is free, but the experience can be exacting. Everyone really does stay up for 24 hours straight. The evening begins with a brainstorming and writing session, then rehearsals and finally a single performance the following evening.

The Twenty-Four Experiment, v. 4.0, starts April 23 and shows on April 24. Anyone who is interested in contributing should call (443) 691 – 7040. If you're not so keen on getting up on stage, it's a mere $5 to view the final product.

Other upcoming shows include Desdemona: A Play About a Handkerchief by Paula Vogel and Fuddy Meers by David Lindsay Abaire. The former is a reconstruction of Shakespeare's Othello from a female vantage point. The latter is a farce involving "an amnesiac, a stroke victim, a pot-smoking dyslexic, a limping man and a ventriloquist with a foul-mouthed sock puppet named Binky," among others.

If all of this seems too good to be true, it is. The theatre itself, while larger than the average family den, has rather limited seating and even fewer seats with a completely unobstructed view. Reservations are recommended.

The other dark stain on this otherwise shining venue is its neighborhood, which is shady beyond belief and a long hike from the Blair area. The Top Floor Theatre is a hole in the wall located at 5440 Harford Road in Baltimore, but it is still not to be missed.

For more information, showtimes and directions check out www.thetopfloor.org or call (443) 691 – 7040.