The restrooms, after all, are why we go to the theater
When the newly remodeled Mark Taper Forum reopened with a black-tie gala on the Music Center plaza, guests were feted by the evening’s incomparable hostess, Dame Edna Everage. For all those unfortunate possums out there who couldn’t afford to shell out the up to $1,500 for a ticket, the $120 to rent a tux, the $130 for the salon visit, the $15 an hour for a baby sitter and the $20 for valet parking, Culture Monster has a special treat: You can view the video entertainment portion of the evening — a “tour” of the theater, led by Dame Edna herself — free of charge in the comfort of your own home.
Now, we at Culture Monster would never want to be accused of being overly judgmental and we certainly appreciate potty humor as much as the next guy, but after you watch the Taper's video, see if you agree that there seems to be inordinate amount of time — more than half of the 8-minute video — spent in the newly enlarged restrooms. That's compared to just over a minute spent in the theater auditorium itself. So even though you never actually see it, we can assure you there is, indeed, still a stage inside the Taper.
—Lisa Fung
Video courtesy of Center Theatre Group
Photo by Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times
