3C IN APT 6E?

 

Just because David Adjmi promised those pesky “Three’s Company” lawyers that there wouldn’t be any commercial productions of 3C, doesn’t mean the play has to die. 
by David Davila (playwright/song-writer)

By now you’ve seen the facebook links to the New York Times article about David Adjmi’s play 3C. The Off-Broadway play examines the characters from the hit comedy series Three’s Company, and shows us what their lives would actually be like if they weren’t forced into farcical happy endings each week. At least that’s what I’m gathering from the article.

I haven’t seen the play.

It’s a shame I haven’t seen it, especially because I rarely miss anything produced at the Rattlestick, and because, well... look at that picture...

Now, I may never get the chance. The lawyers for that old nostalgic gem issued a cease-and-desist order to the play 3C, and in an urgent attempt to put out fires, the playwright promised them that he would kill the play after this production ended. There would be no publishing or licensing deals, and so the play would presumably disappear to the “land of forgotten art.”

(Trans: Here lies Anton Salieri, the greatest composer who ever lived. He wrote such masterpieces as... um... um... hmmm...)

On a side note, it's a shame to think that the play would die now that there’s all this national publicity. Seems like David could work a deal where “Three’s Company” could get a cut of any proceeds.

The thing about “the land of forgotten art” is that there’s no guarantee that art will stay there forever. (Ask Mendelssohn how he found Bach) Just because the play can’t have a commercial production doesn’t mean it can’t live. I suggest a guerrilla 3C campaign.

So David Adjmi can’t make money off of his baby. Okay. Fine. He can still get his voice heard.

 

E-mail me the script David. I’ll do a performance in my living room, and I’ll email it to some friends, and they could do a cold read off their tablets. We could have 3C parties all over the west side. I mean... gay men LOVE theme parties... especially ones where they get to perform. Then I’ll e-mail it to my all my theatre teacher friends in Texas (Oh yeah, I used to teach high school for several years in Texas) and they’ll use it in their scene studies, or give it to kids for monologues to compete in acting events. Then we'll call up the Actor’s Fund and offer it as a benefit reading or five, or six, or twenty.

Hell, we could start an entire foundation to raise money to protect artists from crap like this. We could do a reading of the play once a month, and ask for donations. Imagine that - The 3C foundation for artists: protecting the little guy with the big voice.

I know you’re bummed David. I am too. Frankly, I think the play probably does fit into the parody realm, as you’re placing these fictional characters in a real world where they actually have to deal with their problems. So you should probably fight it....

...but if not...

I’ll be waiting for you. I’ll put some of those pizza bites in the oven, maybe a six pack of Brooklyn Lager, or Goose Island, and I'll call up the posse, and we’ll all have a gay ole time.

So what are you waiting for? Comma knock on my door....

 

DAVID DAVILA is half of the song-writing duo Havrilla & Davila, author of the Tex-Mex plays, and founder of Lone Star Theatre Co. Wanna talk about it? www.daviddavila.net
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Comments

[Vanessa Garcia]

What a shame. But yea, count me in for spreading readings, monologues, etc. Viva art!

[Maria Norman]

Here's another suggestion: If I were him, I'd amend the play to parody not only the old TV show itself, but also the contemporary behavior of its rapacious and fanatical owners (via one of the characters, who could be a playwright facing the same dilemma as the author). Sharpening the parody to a rapier point would definitely enhance his chances in court.