So, indulging in the fabulosity that is Free Night of Theater, we went to two performances this weekend. The first one, 11 pm Friday night, was the Sacred Fools’ Magnum Opus Theatre, in which they take a script that was sent, unsolicited, to Hollywood production companies and perform it exactly as it was written. The script for this performance was a little gem titled What’s Love Made Of, Anyway? To explain the level of hilarity that ensued, one of the possible recipes for love was sunny side up eggs and orange juice. And to explain just how bad the script was, the final answer of what love is made of? You and me.

Before Friday night, I never would have believed that the worst writing ever put to page could make the best theater. Bravo, Magnum Opus, Bravo.

Friday night highlights included:

• Hearing some woman outside the theater explaining to her friend that she gave some guy a kiss, “but, you know, like a friend kiss?” Her words. Not mine. I had to turn away I was laughing so hard.
• Seeing Velma from Scooby Doo. She sat in the row in front of us and had an amazingly loud laugh that increased proportionately to her drunkeness.
• Also in the row in front of us, two women, one leaning into the other and using this come on. (This is a direct quote. I wrote it down so I would be able to repeat it word for word.) “That’s right, I’m leaning on your shoulder, ease you into it, ’cause tonight I’m going to cuddle with you.”

Saturday night, we went to a performance of MasterGate at The Actors Repertory Theater. The political play on words is a bit brilliant and a bit lacking at the same time. This performance tended more toward the lacking, though there were some shining moments.

The most interesting thing about both of these performances is that they served as a reminder that there are some people who still perform out of love, without the perk of a big paycheck. It also, sadly, served as a reminder that there aren’t a lot of people going out to appreciate it. Sometimes I really do miss New York.