Review: In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play

In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play

by Sarah Ruhl

At the dawn of the electrial age, a new medical device is developed to pacify hysterical women, but it produces a shockingly different result.

Kitchen Dog Theater, now through Oct. 9^th

I dragged a girlfriend to come see this with me.  The title throws you off and although about exactly what it claims to be about, it was a delightful evening of theatre.  I find Kitchen Dog Theater to have the best productions in Dallas.  The first act had the audience laughing out loud, and getting in towards the second act the play took a more dramatic tone.  I learned about wet nurses, a new and somewhat depressing concept.  For those in the dark like me, wet nurses are women who have babies that die and are still producing milk.  Other women, with living babies whose milk doesn’t come in hire these women to breast feed their own hungry babies.  A super depressing situation for both women.  When the play started out the acting was  a bit stiff but quickly improved for the rest of the performance.  This is a fun play for a girls night out, and leaves you anxious to explore your own shock therapy treatment.