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Smith & Kraus Best Men's Monologues '24
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Synopsis
Lou Brunazzi & André Cooper live across the hall from each other in the basement of a beat-up apartment building in the Bronx. On the landing between their units stands a noisy radiator, which is connected to a deteriorating boiler. Determined to stop the whistling, hissing & banging that’s keeping him awake at night, André endeavors to turn the radiator off, but is cut short by Lou who is determined to keep it running at all costs. What starts as a battlefield between two headstrong men slowly evolves into a makeshift sitting room where the pair begin to form a unique and lasting bond.
Inspiration Set
Playwright Note
I began writing RADIATOR in 2017, in heated response to the political climate in the U.S. at the time, particularly the alarming rise in ICE immigration arrests, which had increased by an estimated 30% to 37% over the previous year.
While that crisis remains a significant thread in the play - and arguably more urgent today - it was through the development of the characters and their stories that RADIATOR evolved into something deeper. What began as a political statement became a meditation on grief, alienation, and the unexpected bonds that form in their wake.
At its heart, RADIATOR is about two men, Lou and André, whose sexualities are presented outside the framework of conventional tropes or stereotypes. They are private, self-effacing individuals searching for a way forward. Neither fits neatly into a predefined box. They are old souls confronting modern dilemmas. You might find yourself wanting to label them when you first meet them but those assumptions will most assuredly fall away as their stories unfold.
While that crisis remains a significant thread in the play - and arguably more urgent today - it was through the development of the characters and their stories that RADIATOR evolved into something deeper. What began as a political statement became a meditation on grief, alienation, and the unexpected bonds that form in their wake.
At its heart, RADIATOR is about two men, Lou and André, whose sexualities are presented outside the framework of conventional tropes or stereotypes. They are private, self-effacing individuals searching for a way forward. Neither fits neatly into a predefined box. They are old souls confronting modern dilemmas. You might find yourself wanting to label them when you first meet them but those assumptions will most assuredly fall away as their stories unfold.
Production History
None to date.
Development History
RADIATOR received a public staged reading on Sat, Nov 9th, 2024, in the Lower East Side of NYC, produced/presented by Desmond Dutcher and Christopher Borg. The reading was directed by Christopher Borg and featured Dontonio Demarco as André Cooper and Desmond Dutcher as Lou Brunazzi. Stage directions were read by Carol Monda.
RADIATOR received public staged readings on Fri, Sep 29th and Sat, Sep 30th, 2023, as part of Anacostia Playhouse's Theater After Dark/Art All Night program. The reading was directed by Craig Houk and featured Joshua Prescott as André Cooper and Matty Griffiths as Lou Brunazzi. Stage directions were read by Karey L. Hart.
RADIATOR received a public staged reading in Chautauqua, New York on Tue, Jul 25th, 2023. The reading was hosted/produced by Mike Thornton and Stephen Stout and the cast featured Mel Johnson, Jr. as André Cooper and Mike Thornton as Lou Brunazzi.
RADIATOR received a public staged reading on Mon, Sep 2nd, 2019, as part of The Kennedy Center's Page to Stage program. The reading was directed by Carl Randolph and featured Jared Shamberger as André Cooper and Matty Griffiths as Lou Brunazzi. Stage directions were read by Elle Emerson.
RADIATOR received public staged readings on Fri, Sep 29th and Sat, Sep 30th, 2023, as part of Anacostia Playhouse's Theater After Dark/Art All Night program. The reading was directed by Craig Houk and featured Joshua Prescott as André Cooper and Matty Griffiths as Lou Brunazzi. Stage directions were read by Karey L. Hart.
RADIATOR received a public staged reading in Chautauqua, New York on Tue, Jul 25th, 2023. The reading was hosted/produced by Mike Thornton and Stephen Stout and the cast featured Mel Johnson, Jr. as André Cooper and Mike Thornton as Lou Brunazzi.
RADIATOR received a public staged reading on Mon, Sep 2nd, 2019, as part of The Kennedy Center's Page to Stage program. The reading was directed by Carl Randolph and featured Jared Shamberger as André Cooper and Matty Griffiths as Lou Brunazzi. Stage directions were read by Elle Emerson.
Awards/Recognition
2020 Dominion Stage Playwrighting Competition One-Act Honorable Mention.
Reviews/Recommendations
"Excellent two-hander from Houk; typically twisted Houkian characters, conflict and tension expertly delivered, and quite a bit of humor keep the steam rising with consistent energy. Great fun and well done."
"Craig Houk has given us a touching and highly theatrical story of two men whose lives intersect briefly but profoundly."
"Craig Houk's "Radiator" rises effortlessly above the fray of banality and cliche like a tortured songbird. Someone once stated that an intelligent heart and a compassionate mind are the gifts that nature bestows upon its artists. Mr. Houk posses these in abundance, and they are well demonstrated in this play."
"Underneath Houk's acid and bite lies a kind, humane heart, and in this exquisitely calibrated two-hander, you'll find it - even if the play itself doesn't want you to get all mushy about it."
Amalgamated Dwellings (New York, NY - 2024)
Anacostia Playhouse (Washington, DC - 2023)
Enter "N/A" if not applicable.
REMINDER: No presentation or production of RADIATOR, in whole or in part, is allowed unless permission is granted by the playwright or his designated agents.