STORY STUDY - MEDIUM: THEATER - “Two on the Aisle, Three in a Van”

Anyone who has ever seen a live show, you can tell the actors are giving their best, but what about the people behind the curtains? In fact, what are the actors thinking when they get off the stage waiting for their next queue.

Sometimes what’s happening backstage can be as interesting as what’s on stage.

Written by Mary Lynn Dobson, Two on the Aisle, Three in a Van is about ten members of the theater who are actors, directors, stage managers, etc.

In this two-act play, each act has three scenes, and each scene depicts a different play or musical they are putting on.

However, no matter what show they’re performing, there’s always going to be despair, confusion and frustration, and the one person who’s just trying to keep the boat from sinking.

Some of these types of characters should sound familiar: the misunderstood director who wants his (objectively terrible) vision to be realized, the actress who’s realizing her days of playing younger roles are coming to an end, the actor who wants every show to be like a musical no matter what kind of show it is, the jaded behind-the-scenes person, and of course, the new guy who’s learning how everyone’s relationship dynamic works.

I have not seen any production of this play, so my analysis is based only on the script. It’s a shame too because in reading the climax of the play, it seems you can only appreciate the madness when its being seen, not read, since there are multiple conversations going on at the same time; if directed properly, the audience can hear and comprehend all the conversations that goes on in this moment.

I hesitate to call this story a dysfunctional family-type story because in the typical plot of one, no matter how much frustration one or more members cause, in the end, the others will defend them.

Here, there are two characters that definitely come off as arrogant and selfish, and ignoring everyone’s opinions because they “just don’t understand their vision.” However, never once do the other characters ever come to defend them when it comes down to it. In fact, the play clearly portrays these two as dangerous, and that if their visions are realized in front of an audience, the theater WILL shut down. Everyone is sick and tired of them, plain and simple; no redemption, no apologies, so don’t expect any of that.

I discovered this play while shopping at the Drama Bookstore, and given my preference of stories about show business, it was a title that caught my attention.

Two on the Aisle, Three in a Van is a hilarious play, but fair warning: if you don’t find unbearable characters funny, then it won’t be for you.