TheaterPalaver: Swampoodle

I don't know what to make of Solas Nua's latest theater offering.  The Washington-based Irish arts organization is staging a "promenade show" called Swampoodle, starting this weekend.  All their website gives by way of description is:

It's the question on everyone's lips: What on earth is Swampoodle? A rundown part of town where the Beatles sang and the girls screamed? An underground ghetto where the Irish fought and died? A beat-up urban Cathedral where Malcolm X lectured the Nazis and Nureyev danced? There's only one way to find out!

Warning! Swampoodle may contain eye-popping high-wire feats, roller derby smack-downs and scenes of a spectacular nature.

Please note that this is a promenade show and the audience is not seated.

As far as I can tell, you wander along with the cast inside the U-line arena -- which was renamed the Washington Coliseum n 1959 -- where, according to Wikipedia, the Beatles played their first concert in the U.S.  More importantly (presumably), from Solas Nua's standpoint, it's located in the area of DC once known as Swampoodle -- an area settled by Irish immigrants in the 19th century fleeing the potato famine.  Again, according to Wikipedia (so it must be true):

The name Swampoodle is attributed to a newspaper reporter covering the ground-breaking of St Aloysius Catholic church in 1857, who referred to the land at the site on North Capitol and I street as containing numerous swamps and puddles - which often occurred when Tiber Creek overflowed its banks.

I've lived in DC for most of the past 31 years, and don't ever recall hearing this term, which may be reason enough to check out Solas Nua's potentially bizarre show.

Swampoodle
Friday, May 20- Saturday, May 28
Tickets are $16

Audience members requiring special assistance should contact the Solas Nua office directly at (202) 315-1317 so that arrangements can be made.

Comments

[J]

One of the early ballparks in DC was named the Swampoodle Grounds. I have always thought that the Nats' mascot should be a re-imagined Swampoodle.

[MB]

That would be great. Get right on that!

[NixonEliza]

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