I'm back from the Stoop. It was kind of really awesome. 7 people recruited in advance from submissions for a 5-7 minute tale, 3 audience members drawn at random at intermission for a 3 minute story. The audience members really knocked it out of the park. Bonus: one was a teacher's assistant bringing a student group from a public school program, as part of a project to put on their own version of the Stoop. Plus the name Duck Acorn Jr.
The hosts were hilarious, as well. Apparently, their first Stoop in a while where one or the other or both weren't pregnant.
Of the 7 pre-planned, only one was surprisingly eh, but she told it with heart and enthusiasm (I think the enthusiasm was what tripped her up, actually.) There was a eyeball donor, uh, removal, specialist; editor for a local paper ; a professor and screenwriter; english teacher and horror writer; a state employee; a haunted house operator and a former history teacher turned cop.
I'd have to say the standouts were the eyeball technician, cop and state employee. Tears to your eyes and belly laughs, sometimes at the same time. Well told and really heartfelt material. Not as well told, but with a haunting loose end was the one from the editor. That one will stick around in my head for a bit ( partly because it speaks to an issue of mine.)
Turns out my friends (and neighbors) have been going to these for years, and one is actually part of Stoop lore.
I wish I could tell a good story. There is one coming in Feb: Gimme Shelter: Stories about finding, creating and losing a home....uh, yeah, speaks to me.