BASH: LATTERDAY PLAYS is a series of three short plays by writer-director Neil LaBute. The first, A GAGGLE OF SAINTS, features two religious college sweethearts (Paul Rudd and Calista Flockhart) recalling the night of a big party, or bash, in Manhattan. Initially, everything about the evening seems peachy until Rudd’s character reveals what happened when he and some buddies went for a late-night walk in Central Park. The second play, MEDEA REDUX, is a solo performance by Calista Flockhart as a troubled girl who recounts an affair with her grade school teacher. Finally, the third, IPHIGENIA IN OREM, is another solo performance, starring Ron Eldard as a lonely traveling businessman eager to make a confession. Like his films IN THE COMPANY OF MEN and YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, LaBute’s BASH is a harsh glimpse into the darker side of human nature. The three plays are disturbing (and sometimes funny) tales told in well-conceived monologues by the characters, who gradually reveal shocking secrets. With its minimal sets and lighting, the production focuses the attention on the actors. Calista Flockhart is particularly outstanding in her roles as both a naive college co-ed and a tough, desperate girl, showing an impressive range that makes each character utterly unique.

release year: 2000

star(s): Calista Flockhart