It’s dark, surreal, atmospheric, poetic; the songs stunning. A musical that looks deeper into the heart than many of us have dared. A story about gay characters that simply accepts their orientation without discussing it. No dancing; no pat answers.
"He has only won because he has more vices than I do."
Donny put himself on the auction block. It seems the only way he can find love successfully is to live, literally, as its slave. He wants to be loved totally, extremely, and perpetually. A bidding war between his two suitors, Billy and RJ, is deadlocked, until RJ wins by sacrificing the one thing that is closer to his heart -- beer.
"For him love was power, for you it’s submission."
Still, Donny is thwarted at every turn -- RJ can not give up his love of the brew, and Billy’s honest love for Donny is tainted by a sailor man he loved and lost in the past. Perhaps, suggests Billy, there is only one perfect love Donny can turn to -- and that is beer itself.
"The line between love and greed is very thin..."
Presiding over this, Angelique -- part angel, part auctioneer, part psychologist -- can grant these men their wishes, but can’t seem to give them what they need far more than that -- the understanding of how to use them.
Ship in a Bottle was produced in April, 1999. It has roles for three men and one woman.
