The King of Wooden Spoonists

The five plays that compose playwright Brian Bigelow's "The King of Wooden Spoonists" run the gamut from stylized to naturalistic, but remain tethered to very real experiences. The first, and longest, play uncovers the comic complications that can arise when romantic aspirations fall on deaf ears, operate at cross-purposes, or even betray, under the guise of a story about a college freshman finding his way as he searches for a major and the relationships he forms along the way. The subsequent four plays feature a traditional boy-meets-girl story set in a mental hospital, an art-gallery opening, the redemptive potential of friendships, and, finally, a second chance for old friends to reconnect after many years apart. "The King of Wooden Spoonists" draws its name from the tradition of awarding a wooden spoon to the last-place finisher in chess competitions. From the author of "The Inhumane Treatment of Seafood," "The Capgras Delusion," "Burn Before Reading," "Akinetopsia," and "The Passive Resisters Soccer Club."