Every week, I compose listings on the week's shows for Metromix NY. I'm so disappointed by the titles that playwrights choose for their work, so I'm reviewing their titles now. Not the shows (I haven't seen them yet) just the titles. To read about the content of each show, click through its link to my listings on Metromix NY.
I'LL BE DAMNED
Titles rarely use full sentences, not for any substantial reason but because of convention. This one adds a dollop of ambiguity: a literal meaning suggests a Faustian plot, while the idiomatic meaning adds a surprised inflection. Simple but effective.
VIAGARA FALLS
I love puns, and approve of their use in titles. But this one bugs me, mostly because it goes out of its way to misspell “Viagra”. Every time I read it, I hear “vye-uh-GAR-ruh”. Otherwise, it's not terrible, since it tells you the show's genre (comedy) and style (punning schtick & Viagra jokes).
I'LL BE DAMNED
Titles rarely use full sentences, not for any substantial reason but because of convention. This one adds a dollop of ambiguity: a literal meaning suggests a Faustian plot, while the idiomatic meaning adds a surprised inflection. Simple but effective.
VIAGARA FALLS
I love puns, and approve of their use in titles. But this one bugs me, mostly because it goes out of its way to misspell “Viagra”. Every time I read it, I hear “vye-uh-GAR-ruh”. Otherwise, it's not terrible, since it tells you the show's genre (comedy) and style (punning schtick & Viagra jokes).
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