The Sordid Mystery of Girl Gone

Thursday, Dec. 8

Eschewing the season's bright, mesmeric tinsel, expressions of goodwill to all, and the occasional schmaltzy holiday song, Edinboro-based Laugh/Riot Performing Arts Company presents Girl Gone by Jacqueline Reingold, a sordid mystery.

Laugh/Riot summarizes the play's plot: "Follow Tish, an exotic dancer, as she tries to make sense of her best friend's brutal murder and find the person responsible. Will Tish be able to hold on to her sense of reality as she gets closer to the truth, or will her obsession lead her down the same path as her friend?"

Girl Gone's Erie debut is part of Laugh/Riot's agenda to perform plays that haven't been produced here, said Joshua Mizikowski, its marketing director, via email. "[P]eople want something different. This show certainly provides that.

"Our audience has grown with us as we explore these types of plays." He added that "True Love [was] one of our Greek adaptations which explored many issues dealing with sex and sexuality [and it] did very well."

Yet, why not an Erie venue that may attract larger audiences for a play with such dark, Cimmerian themes?

"Laugh/Riot is based out of Edinboro and it has served us very well. Part of our mission has been to bring quality theatre to the area and we have been able to do that," Mizikowski said. "Also, over the past few years we have been able to build an audience that wants and expects us to push boundaries, not just for the sake of doing it, but to do pieces and explore issues that others won't. The sexual aspects are not done for shock, but are deeply interwoven into the plot and help us honestly dive into a very dark world."

Mizikowski concluded that "The only thing we hope for is that the audience will be provoked by a great story that will keep them on the edge of their seat." – Gregory Greenleaf-Knepp

7:30 p.m. on Dec. 8-10; 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 11 // Diebold Center for the Performing Arts at Edinboro University // 219 Meadville St., Edinboro // $10 general admission; $5 for seniors, and EUP faculty, staff, and non-EUP students, and $3 for EUP students // Tickets at the door or at laughrioterie.com // Girl Gone contains nudity, sexual situations, language, and violence; no one under the age of 18 will be permitted.