We Bring Good Nothingness to Life

"...brilliant, unflinching performances that tie us to their real-life counterparts as I’ve never seen before."

--David Fox, Parterre Box & Reclining Standards on The Two-Character Play (Outcry) by Tennessee Williams (2022)

"I'm willing to venture that this material has never seemed so lucid, or emerged with such sweet poetry, as it does here."

--Cameron Kelsall, Broad Street Review on The Two-Character Play (Outcry) by Tennessee Williams (2022)

"...leave it to Tina Brock and her mighty little Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium to choose to bring The Two Character Play to absurd life once more, and to make us feel all the crazy, despairing desperation it contains."

- Toby Zinman, Phindie on The Two-Character Play (Outcry) by Tennessee Williams (2022)

"The actors, consummate veterans,  are ridiculously sublime... top of the line designers—sound, scene, lighting, costume, who know what they’re doing..."

Watching THE TWO-CHARACTER PLAY (OUT-CRY) by Tennessee Williams

--Kathryn Osenlund, Phindie, on The Two-Character Play (Outcry) by Tennessee Williams (2022)

“The Eccentricities of a Nightingale is a brilliant cabinet of curiosities.”

--David Fox, Philadelphia Magazine on The Eccentricities of a Nightingale (2018)

“…outrageous mayhem, incorrect and hilarious…” “Sex! Violence! More sex! More violence! IRC’s hilarious production of Christopher Durang’s Betty’s Summer Vacation is a total hoot.”

--Toby Zinman, The Philadelphia Inquirer on Betty’s Summer Vacation (2019)

“...this powerful reappraisal of Come Back, Little Sheba will live on in your memory long after the lights go up. Think you know William Inge? Think again.”

--David Fox, RecliningStandards.com on Come Back, Little Sheba (2019)

“It's not that way, it's over here...a wonderfully immersive experience...increasingly ridiculous and heightening stakes are a masterclass in comedic scene work...”

--Joshua Herren, Phindie.com on The Bald Soprano (2020)

“…tragic…hilarious…political…psychological…absurd…People laughed. People cried. Mostly we just sat wide-eyed and amazed.”

–Toby Zinman, The Philadelphia Inquirer on The Chairs (2009)

“...a sublime trip through the ridiculous... zany, intrepid company…”

--Cameron Kelsall, Broad Street Review on The Bald Soprano (2020)

“...daring little company…”

--Mark Cofta, Philadelphia City Paper

Pdcst

Good to See You Again!

“Oh, what a long, long way we have traveled together, too long, now, for separation.” - Clare, The Two-Character Play by Tennessee Williams

Clare, the sister-half of the sibling team from the IRC’s recent Fringe 2022 production, opines these words to her brother Felice, illustrating the complicated history of their relationship. These words also capture the complicated journey of coming back to the stage in the IRC’s first in-person stage show post-pandemic.

As we make our way in a new reality, both disorienting and challenging, rehearsing The Two-Character Play, Williams’ wholly enigmatic play, sharing a rehearsal room with each other once again, was invigorating. The opportunity to share Williams’ words within the world our designers created is “… finally, something almost resembling daylight…”

Holding fast to beautiful memories of the people and places who have left us since we were all together last, we're all making our way in an altered theatrical landscape, their memories a brilliant guiding star.

This year celebrates 17 years of the IRC “Bringing Good Nothingness to Life.” We’re eager to continue exploring the IRC’s mission in the years upcoming through illuminating, existentialist theater. Given the events of the last two years, we are challenged to interpret these thought-provoking works in a new light, and excited to share the results with you.

We appreciate your curiosity, your adventurous spirit, and for helping us to venture forth and to create unique theatrical experiences. Your support has enabled the IRC to continue refining how we can be viable on and off the stage in the years to come. We’re currently planning season 2023 and will post updates here and on social media. Until then, make sure to join the IRC mailing list in the next section below!

Many thanks for supporting the IRC. We’re happy to be back on stage, with you in the audience.

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Check out the IRC Podcast!

Absurd, abstract and intriguing, Into the Absurd reveals the passions and purpose of creators around the country in a 50 minute conversation happening Saturdays at 5 pm at the virtual dinner table, hosted by Tina Brock, Producing Artistic Director of The Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium, a Philadelphia-based theater whose mission is producing existentialist and absurdist theater. We'll Bring Good Nothingness to Life each week, keeping playwright Samuel Beckett's famous phrase front of mind: "You Must Go On. I Can't Go On. I'll Go On." Join us as we illuminate creative works and creative thinking, finding the poetry in existentially challenging times, sharing a laugh and always a story -- connecting us to our works and to each other. On on iTunes, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your Podcasts.

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