BPP's 'Blizzard' fires off 30 plays in 60 minutes

Musical numbers, make-out scenes and rubber horse masks were just a few of the things the Bloomington Playwrights Project used to entice its audience about local businesses Thursday night.

Every year, the Bloomington Playwrights Project puts on a production called the “Blizzard,” where a crew of six actors attempt to perform 30 short plays in 60 minutes.

All of the short plays are inspired by local businesses and serve as a fundraiser for the collective.

“We allowed the businesses to inspire the plays instead of straight-out promoting them,” playwright Henry Greene said.

Audience member and season ticket holder Dave Moeller said he thought the show was hilarious.

“I thought they were really energetic and creative,” Moeller said. “Physically outrageous. There was a lot of physical comedy in there.”

To get the audience more involved, the BPP decided to let spectators choose which scenes were up next.

“We have a menu of plays, and they shout out which plays what they want to see,” artistic director Chad Rabinovitz said.

The timed aspect of the show added to its humor.

“It’s not just about the 30 plays in 60 minutes. It’s about the chaos of it,” Greene said. “I wanted the plays to echo that.”

Tory Crowe, an actress in the “Blizzard”, said being timed was a challenge.

“It’s a good chaos,” Crowe said. “Sometimes there are mass amounts of props that have to be set and since it’s timed and you don’t know what order things are supposed to be in its very chaotic.”

Moeller said he liked how the cast had to work with a running clock.

“It adds something to it because you’re always keeping an eye on it, so it adds to the fun,” Moeller said.

A large timer hung above the stage floor, which was painted with snowflakes and “Blizzard” at center stage. Greene said the BPP paints the floor for every new production.

Among the short plays were “Raiders of Los Tacos,” an Indiana Jones parody sponsored by Mexican restaurant La Torre. Another segment was about fatally serious caterers, sponsored by the Serious Catering Company.

“I enjoyed being the caterer because I get murdered at the and it’s just a very fun way to go out,” Crowe said.

All plays in the production were original, written by Greene. The only professional theater in the state, the BPP focuses primarily on new plays.

“If people just kept producing Shakespeare all the time, theater would be a museum,” Rabinovitz said.

Some of the other businesses featured in the production were Nick’s English Hut, Bloomingfoods Market and Deli and Landlocked Music.   

Audience members were asked to vote for their three favorite shows at the end of the production. The winning play and business will be announced next week.

For more information about the BPP, visit newplays.org.