Have you ever clicked ‘reply all’ instead of ‘reply?’ Maybe, maybe not, but I’d like to bet most of you have sent an e-mail and regretted clicking ‘send’ so abruptly. Perhaps you caught a spelling error in the subject just after you committed or maybe the regret came a few minutes later, after you’ve had enough time to consider and question your choice of words. While most of us opt to keep the resulting embarrassment or lament behind the computer screen, Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore are going a different route; they’re using these e-mails to tell a story on the stage.
After two successful performances at The Triad in New York City, Van Zandt and Milmore’s You’ve Got Hate Mail is back and set for a much longer run. It stars Van Zandt and Milmore as a husband and wife struggling through a rough spot in their marriage, a struggle that takes place almost entirely through e-mail.
Having never reported on theater, I was certainly hesitant to accept an interview with Van Zandt and Milmore, however, it looks like my effort to expand my horizons paid off big time because not only is the subject matter and format of the show modern and innovative, but the chat was a blast. They discussed You’ve Got Hate Mail’s true source material, the show’s Blackberry chase scene, working with director Gary Shaffer and so much more. Check out the interview in the video below and head over to the show’s website, YouveGotHateMail.com, to get tickets.
By Perri Nemiroff