Reviewers say, consider The Love of Three Oranges, even though you’ve never heard of it

Citrus fruit slices (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Someone brought this great review of The Love of Three Oranges to my attention and, while the whole thing is both raving and well written, I especially loved the last line from the reviewer:

“The Episcopal Academy Domino Club proved that audiences shouldn’t approach lesser known shows with doubt or trepidation. Their performance of The Love of Three Oranges was truly a citrusy success!” -Rachel Horner

First of all, what a thrill for me to have a reviewer of the play literally conclude her review with the theme of the show. To know that a group of people I’ve never met put on something I wrote years ago and, with nothing more than my words on paper, ended up on exactly the same mental page as me gives me a huge feeling of satisfaction. If anyone walks out of Three Oranges willing to give something they’ve never heard of a try, I feel like my work here is done.

As a veteran of theatre myself, I know how guilty schools and community theatres can be of just doing the same plays over and over again. And while those staples have their merits, sometimes busting out something completely random can give the whole drama program a kick in the pants.

Audience members can be just as guilty of this. There’s a reason everything on Broadway is a revival or adaptation of a movie. People aren’t as willing to try something new when they could go for the familiar. But sometimes it’s that thing you’ve never tried before that could become your new favorite flavor.

So, if you see The Love of Three Oranges playing near you (and here’s a list of upcoming productions) or if you’re school or theatre group looking for your next production, consider trying something different. It might prove to be the most fruitful decision you’ve ever made.

Never read Three Oranges? You can read all but the last few pages of the show for free here.