San Diego Surprise #2: Moxie Theatre

Latest production - Moxie Theatre 

This surprise *is* in San Diego proper, near San Diego State University.  It's a theater founded in 2004 to showcase works by female playwrights, called, nicely enough, Moxie Theatre. It's tucked into the corner of a shopping mall, next to a lot of massage parlors and smoke shops.  Not a particularly promising location.

It was girlfriends' night out, and frankly I had low expectations. We were about to watch Herland, an original play by Grace McLeod, who is all of 23 years old.  Originally, I thought it was going to be about the 1915 book of the same name, but instead it was a delightful ensemble act about three ladies in their 70s who hire a high school intern to help them plan a Utopian alternative to an old folks' home.  The action takes place in Jean's "office" in the garage, former home to Jean's ex-husband's Bruce Springsteen cover band.  Subtle and funny and identifiable, it exceeded my expectations. More than that, I enjoyed it immensely.  Local hardscrabble theater can be good. And you're bound to get a good seat, because there are so few of them.

Next up is Hookman, an existential slasher comedy. Check it out if you're in the neighborhood.

Always a good seat at the Moxie.