Sleeping with Management
nytheatre.com review by Gyda Arber
August 15, 2004
Christine Goodman's new one-woman show, Sleeping With Management, concerns itself with her recent work with a touring children's theatre company that is well-known in acting circles for fostering young talent (and providing a quick way to get an Equity card). Though the group is referred to by a different name in the show, those familiar with the young actor's plight will easily recognize the company and the inside view Goodman provides.
The show covers Goodman’s tour experience, from casting to completion. To this end, she portrays nine characters, including her manager, other actors in the show, assorted people she meets on the road, and of course, herself. Since things are never as simple as they seem, it turns out that her boyfriend is road-managing the production, which makes him her boss. Negotiating this relationship with the added stress of a road show proves to be a difficult task, but Goodman brings humor and warmth to the situation. The spoken word poetry she intersperses between scenes provides even more insight.
Director Jack Halpin leads Goodman to a solid performance, doing fine work with each of the characters; she clearly knows how to tell a good story. I had a wonderful time at the show, laughing at and empathizing with her situation. The show seems to be aimed at theatre-types, however; my familiarity with this company and my understanding of theatre put me on the same page as Goodman, while my companion at the show, a theatre outsider, if you will, did not share the same enthusiasm. But I think all theatre folks will surely appreciate Sleeping With Management as much as I did; for any actors considering touring with a children’s theatre company (or who have already), the humor and inside knowledge presented make Sleeping With Management a must-see.
