by John Bear
Daily Lobo
So you've been bad, really bad?
If so, head down to Tricklock Performance Space to catch "A Couple of Good Copy Editors," written by Sabrielle Sky.
The story concerns a couple of copy editors who arrive at work late one night to discover two of their coworkers bloodied and dead on the floor. To add an element of weirdness to the apparent tragedy, the two characters are also decked out in full S&M gear.
Director Kimberly Liphardt said the play utilizes what most people recognize as traditional sadomasochistic articles: lots of leather, whips and chains.
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Though it deals with a considerably less-than-mainstream topic, she said a person doesn't need to be involved with the S&M scene in order to enjoy the play, because it is really more about the deaths of the two coworkers than their peculiar tastes.
"A lot of the humor stems from the other coworkers, how they're dealing with it and their reactions," Liphardt said. "That's something anyone can relate to."
But just because a background in handcuffs and gag balls is not required to enjoy the show, hold off on dragging grandma and grandpa to the theater.
"I think it appeals to a younger audience in their 20s or 30s because of the material it deals with," Liphardt said.
Part of the show features the noticeably scantily clad. Liphardt said it wasn't at all difficult to get the actors to shed their outerwear in favor of leather and corsets.
"I thought it would be, but I've got a really great cast," she said. "They were really open about it and went really far with it. That made it easier."
Though the play features people bound and gagged, those only interested in watching others getting punished may be disappointed.
"They're dead, so there's not a whole lot of actual S&M," she said. "It's the repercussions of S&M gone wrong."
The play uses the phenomenon of sadomasochism to drive a broader sociological point.
It deals with human sexuality and how what other people do becomes our business, she said.
She said she is not personally into the S&M scenes, but does enjoy movies such as "Secretary" which play around with the theme.
"A Couple of Good Copy Editors" is part of the "Out of Bounds" series.
COMING ATTRACTION
A Couple of Good Copy Editors
Tricklock Performance Space
112 Washington Blvd.
Friday and Saturday 8 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m.
277-7331
