Meetinghouse Theatre Lab will present a staged reading of “Cold $torage” by Dustin Sleight of Portland, Maine, winner of its 7th annual playwriting competition.
Cold $torage is a fast-paced and dark comedic farce that satirizes our modern obsessions with technology, consumerism, and corporate influence.
Set in "Joe's Diner" in Portland, Maine, the play unfolds over a single day, revealing the chaos that ensues when Joe's attempt at a secret money-making scheme begins to go off the rails.
Through quirky characters and an ever-growing level of absurdity, the play offers a humorous take on our short attention spans and growing reliance on new technologies.
Joe’s handle on controlling the chaos steadily unravels as the kinetic pace hurtles the cast and audience through a playful yet pointed exploration of the absurdities of modern life.
The staged reading of Cold $torage will be directed by Mark Lancaster. Mr. Sleight will attend the workshop and watch as his piece is brought to life. There will be a small wine and cheese reception afterwards and a brief talk-back with the audience.
The playwright's reading always takes a slight departure from the usual Out of the Hat workshop format in that it will be pre-cast with a rehearsal prior to the workshop and performance date.
Admission is free but donations gratefully accepted.
Contains adult language.
Playwright Bio:
Dustin Sleight is an engineer by day and an aspiring writer by night, currently living in Portland, Maine. After moving to southern Maine in 2015, he has gradually adapted to the concept of enjoying "beach days" by stockpiling sunscreen and investing in quality beach umbrellas. His favorite pastimes include the perpetual build-out of his at home music studio, books, movies, and spending time in the great outdoors. The first draft of his play "Cold $torage" was selected for a reading at the Northern Writes New Play Festival in 2011 and most recently his short story "RIP Mrs. Crawford" won first prize at the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance Crime Flash-Fiction writing contest. Dustin is thrilled to have the latest revision of the play selected for the MHTL Maine Playwright Award.