The Washington D.C.-Northern-Virginia-Southern Maryland strip is about as rich and thick with swimming talent right now as we’ve ever seen on the east coast of the United States, with the likes of Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky attracting attention of even the non-aquatically inclined.
And so Lucas Hnath has written a play called “Red Speedo” for D.C.’s Studio Theatre, directed by Lila Neugebauer. The synopsis from the theater:
Ray’s swum his way to the eve of the Olympic trials. If he makes the team, he’ll get a deal with Speedo. If he gets a deal with Speedo, he’ll never need a real job. So when someone’s stash of performance-enhancing drugs is found in the locker room fridge, threatening the entire team’s Olympic fate, Ray has to crush the rumors or risk losing everything. A sharp and stylish play about swimming, survival of the fittest, and the American dream of a level playing field—or of leveling the field yourself.
Actually, this sounds kind of like a real-life scenario, and could be an interesting exploration of the human emotion when faced by just this scenario (and the reality is that most of the elite swimmers in the world probably know at least one competitor who is doping but hasn’t been caught yet.)
The play is taking place in the theater’s “Studio Lab,” which is an opportunity for playwrights to experiment with different forms, and stars one Frank Boyd as “Ray,” the swimmer.
For tickets to the play, which began September 25th, click here.
That’s what I thought. After reading more about the play I agree it is an interesting concept and anytime swimming is out there I’m all in favor.
Swimming in the theater works and is a great medium to share the mindset and enthusiasm of the sport of swimming. I am a college student at a liberal arts school and took a playwriting course last winter during my college swim season. Obviously, the one act play I wrote ended up being about swimming, titled “No Limits?”. What I did not expect was for my play about swimming to end up being one of two student written acts chosen to be performed out of a selection open to the entire student body. Beyond that, people came and watched who knew nothing about swimming and then walked away feeling a connection with the sport. I wish “Red Speedo” the best… Read more »
Ridiculous. Speedo should sue. Or did Speedo give permission?
oldswimmer – artistic freedom. No lawsuit could possibly win. Besides which….Speedo does very well financially on the basis of their brand being the ubiquitous name for “briefs,” see no reason why they’d fight it.