Properly Sauced: The American Drink Book On Stage

By Rob Christopher in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 11, 2012 5:20PM

Some advice is timeless. At the blog The Bollard, John Myers describes the chapter on vodka in S. S. Field’s American Drink Book, which was first published in 1953:

“What You Should Know About Vodka” is my favorite. “Not much,” Field begins, and the section ends a scant three paragraphs later with, “Otherwise, Vodka should be drunk ice cold and well-surrounded with food.”

Drinkers have been merrily mangling that advice for years now (grilled cheese vodka, anyone?), and Field's guide has (sadly) faded from memory. It appears to be out of print. But the monological geniuses at BoyGirlBoyGirl are doing their best to refresh our collective memories with their new show inspired by the classic tome.

The American Drink Book consists of six stories which freely riff from Field's collection of American drinking lore, history, and recipes. BoyGirlBoyGirl ensemble members Rachel Claff, Susan MacLaughlin Karp, David Kodeski, Stephanie Shaw, Diana Slickman, and Edward Thomas-Herrera promise a wide range of moods: "comic, romantic, reckless, refused, and abused." After seeing a show like this you'd be crazy not to wet your whistle, so it's a good thing that Chief O'Neill's Pub & Restaurant is only a few doors down from the theater.

Part of Rhinofest 2012, The American Drink Book has four shows only: January 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 7:00 PM, at Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston. Tickets are $15 or pay what you can at the door, $12 online
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