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· 3 min read

Systems: A New Play with Many Identities

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    Ian Carroll

    Chief Technical Director

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Squirrelington Studios recently had the privilege of videographing a staged reading of Systems, a new play by Madi Goff with Bespoke Plays. This is a play featuring Dissociative Identity Disorder, and though it may be of many minds, it has one great heart.

You can find the stream of Systems here at Bespoke Plays while it lasts.

Liz and Lucas (Madi Goff and Vodexter Montegut II), sit down to watch a scary movie at the start of Systems
Liz and Lucas (Madi Goff and Vodexter Montegut II), sit down to watch a scary movie at the start of Systems

The Pico is a black box theatre not far from Century City in Los Angeles. If you’re from out of town, that’s near where the Skyscraper from Die Hard is. Even buildings are famous in LA, but art is about more than fame. Some of the best new works I’ve seen have come out of this humble, but well-kept theatre through Bespoke Plays, including Madi Goff’s last play, Lady Face.

Who is Bespoke Plays?

“Remember Plays?” Bespoke Plays does, and wants to remind the world that theatre didn’t end with Susan Lori Parks. Much like the spirit of life itself, new works by new artists are constantly emerging. Bespoke Plays creates bi-coastal opportunities for writers with diverse stories and worldviews, by producing staged readings in Los Angeles and NYC, customized to the goals of the writer and readiness of the play.

If their work inspires you, you can support them further at their patreon page.

An important council convenes in Liz&rsquo;s, <em>or I should say The System&rsquo;s,</em> inner world. [from left: Vodexter Montegut II, Arlo Sanders, Charley Flyte, Madi Goff, and Eliza Huberth]
An important council convenes in Liz’s, or I should say The System’s, inner world. [from left: Vodexter Montegut II, Arlo Sanders, Charley Flyte, Madi Goff, and Eliza Huberth]

Squirrelington Studios has been recording and editing their live stage readings for audiences distanced by Covid. The plays have ranged from heady plays about love and relativistic time dilation, to serious plays about religion and gun violence.

Madi Goff: Writer, Actor, Improviser

Liz explains D.I.D. in the most delightfully nerdy-professor way.<br> The lecture is a standout moment.
Liz explains D.I.D. in the most delightfully nerdy-professor way.
The lecture is a standout moment.

While all the writers are very much worthy of praise, what makes Ms. Goff’s work stand out is her blending of comedy from small moments of truth on the stage with great big heavy messages that leave you thinking. The comedy adds sparkle and contrast to buoy-up those messages, and give the viewer a chance to consider them without feeling pressured to do so.

“Moments of drama have to be earned.” Madi Goff

Madi Goff is also an accomplished improviser having performed with The Groundlings Sunday Company and the Impro Theatre Main Company. The writer has had the pleasure of taking her classes where she coaches this approach to improv. Touching something real requires levity. And levity requires honesty.

Both are in great abundance in this play that has such a heaping portion of heart that this writer is reexamining his understanding of himself to the positive. Bravo to Ms. Goff for deftly helping to lessen the stigma of Dissociative Identity Disorders.

&ldquo;There is no end!&rdquo; Lie (Mary Chieffo), a troubled system member, tells Nickel (Vondexter Montegut II)
“There is no end!” Lie (Mary Chieffo), a troubled system member, tells Nickel (Vondexter Montegut II)

You can find the stream of Systems here at Bespoke Plays while it lasts. And you can support more new plays at Bespoke’s Patreon Page.