Joel Salatin Hosts a Game Show: The Food Play at The North Market

In case you're wondering, that's a lobster roll from DeepWood, and while probably only tangentially related to the main subject of this post, I figured it is as good a way as any to get your attention. (And yes, it was delicious.)

This past Saturday, a friend and I traversed through hail, high winds, and torrential rain to get to the North Market and catch a performance of Available Light Theater's current production, The Food Play. It runs through June 11, so that means there's still time for you to get tickets and go see it.

The Food Play is an original piece born out of the insatiable reading appetite of troupe's member Matt Slaybaugh. Using a series of theatrical devices (skits, a game show, monologues, even a Seinfeld parody), AVLT explores most of the major issues facing our food supply, as examined in books by writers including Michael Pollan, Marion Nestle, and Mark Bittman. The cast of six manages to convey to the audience a huge amount of information pertaining to factory farming, farm subsidies, food deserts, processed foods, and much more in a way that is enlightening and entertaining. Each show also features a Q&A with a local food celebrity; the night I was there it was ice cream queen Jeni Britton Bauer. (Hooray!) Throughout the course of the show, the crew provides treats supplied by local purveyors (focaccia from Omega Bakery, chips and salsa from 2 Caterers, ice cream sandwiches from Jeni's, and more) and ends with an open discussion with the audience.

The Food Play has three more shows this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If you are even passingly interested in food, live theater, or any combination thereof, I can't encourage you enough to come out and support AVLT's work. Not only will you have the opportunity to see some great performances and enjoy some tasty treats, but you'll also (hopefully) learn a little something about what/how we eat and maybe even be inspired to make a change for the better in your life or community. Don't miss it!

Comments

Anonymous said…
Well we must experiment with different kind of dishes, and even this sandwich is different of what we are accustomed to eat, I must say looks delightful.
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December 13, 2011 at 9:09 AM
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