The New York International Fringe Festival
fair anger productions and Fringe NYC Present

A SUPPOSEDLY FUN THING I’LL NEVER DO AGAIN

The White Box at 440 Studios
440 Lafayette
NY NY

16, 20, 22, 26, 28 August 2015

Written by David Foster Wallace
Adapted and performed by Christopher Duva
Directed by Suzanne Weber

One of the most admired writers of our time, David Foster Wallace is currently being lauded in film (David Lipsky’s THE END OF THE TOUR), and now on stage. In both, we see him: messy, slouchy and neurotic with his bandana and glasses; always observing yet rarely fully connecting with the world around him. Jason Segel is deservedly getting rave reviews for his film performance, and for Christopher Duva, it must be nerve-wracking to know the audience won’t be able to help but compare. He should not worry. Rather than being competing performances, they are highly complementary.

I can’t imagine anyone thinking they could turn David Foster Wallace’s inspired essay on cruising into a performance piece, and yet, here it is, acutely observed and hysterically shared. Christopher Duva is simply amazing. David Foster Wallace’s energy may flag, but Duva’s never does. He is all over the stage and in and out of clothes (no nudity!), while nimbly handling some of the densest and cleverest prose imaginable.

- Jean Tait -