Before Placing Me On Your Shelf

adapted from poems by James Tate; directed by Philip Gates

The Kraine Theatre 

Before Placing Me On Your Shelf, a new play based on the poems of James Tate, is about as hard to compartmentalize as its title suggests. Tate, a Pulitzer-winner, is part of the post-modern and surrealist movements in poetry, and these piece very much reflects that freeform approach to life.

Featuring strange phone calls, a camel mask, interpretive movement, and some pretty scary moths, it’s a difficult piece to describe but one that, ultimately, is both confounding and entertaining. Exiting the theatre, one might not be able to quite put a finger on what made the evening a success, but at an hour and fifteen minutes in length, Before Placing Me On Your Shelf maintained a brisk pace and held my attention, mostly thanks to the fleetly direction of Philip Gates.

Remaining Shows: WED 17 @ 2:45, FRI 19 @ 2:45, SUN 21 @ 7