9 Reasons Why I Loved Take Me Out:

1. The timing was perfect, as I'm celebrating my own emergence as a baseball fan. Our newly-beloved hometown Nats have inspired me, among the least-sporto of people around, to not only go see games live but to even watch them on tv at home! I spent last Friday at RFK for my 3rd game of the season (sad that it was that awful 14-1 victory for Clemens and the Astros), so it was only fitting that this Friday I saw a great contemporary show about baseball.

2. My new favorite quote: "The great advantage of an extremely narrow life is the slightest deviation produces STAGGERING results."

3. My favorite element of the set design was somewhat subtle, but there were strips of lights embedded into the stage floor that, when lit, took the shape of a baseball diamond. Cool.

4. The play reminded me a bit of the movie Crash, as it dramatically makes the point about how much of an effect people's somewhat careless words can have on others. Whether it's about race, sexuality, religion, education, family background, etc., words have power. I'm glad that in their extremes these stories remind us to be more conscientious and empathetic in what we say.

5. Great music! I'd forgotten there were so many great songs about baseball. My friend and I spent the whole rest of the evening singing "Put me in coach....I'm ready to play, today!"

6. Ahem, the, um, shower scene.....Lever 2000 really does get to all 2000 parts....

7. The fact that I saw the show for free! Hooray for arts community connections. Makes me laugh when I consider how many people I know who *pay* to see naked performers on stage....heh heh....

8. It was my first visit to the Studio Theatre, and I'm excited now that I finally know there's such a great theater option in walking distance from my apartment!

9. There was an amazing monologue in the first act that holds out baseball as the ultimate example of democracy, a world in which everyone has the opportunity to make their contribution, and a second chance can make all the difference.