| go to entry page | | go to other departments |   Lary Litt "Preparation Hex" "Preparation Hex" Written and performed by Bob Brader Directed and developed by Suzanne Bachner The Director’s Studio 311 West 43rd St., 4th Floor Reviewed June 9, 2009 by Larry Litt First and foremost Bob Brader is a nice, normal guy, even though he’s an actor who writes his own very intimate solo shows, daring to perform them in front of strangers. His current one person show, Preparation Hex, exposes us to how nice and normal he is while on his “finding true love journey.” It’s also his verbal diary of very painful days of stress, bathing and doctoring. Through his autobiographical storytelling skills, we get to meet several not very interesting women, then ultimately his true heart throb, Suzanne. More important we learn that Bob is a moral, very straight and romantic sex partner. He rejects any form of kinkiness with strangers. Does he like it with women he knows well? We’ll never know. He’s not terribly adventurous as he tells us his secrets of getting the girl. His advise: “wait until she dumps her horrible boyfriend before you try anything.” Very noble, chivalrous and upright. A good example for those audience members who wonder about these moments when they’re on their own. I like Bob Brader’s storytelling style, he calls it “a sit behind a desk monologue,” which he does. He uses several slides projected onto a small screen to give his tale of love found, lost and finally won big time a visual dimension that movement or props might have highlighted. He obviously loves his acting and telegraphs this love to the audience. Monologsing gives him a chance to tell his own stories but also this ever expanding art form acts as a catharsis, so the storyteller can go beyond the stage out into reality, where stories are born. Most of all, Bob is telling the story of how much he loves his wife, the very capable director Suzanne Bachner. It’s touching, funny and important because we all share similar experiences like his. Often we can’t laugh at ourselves. Bob Brader helps us to see romance and love as a very human and sharing life story. I hope to see what monologue magic they conjure in the future, when they have their perfect show business baby. Peace and Pleasure, Larry Litt | lobby | search | home | cue-to-cue | discounts | welcome | film | dance | reviews | | museums | NYTW mail | recordings | coupons | publications | classified |