Broken Gopher Ink
Encyclopedia
Broken Gopher Ink are a team of playwright
s whose quirky and vicious "comedies
" have been produced in theatres throughout the US and the UK. Starting in the 1980s, Broken Gopher Ink began a series of off-Broadway
shows, which later became known for their nihilistic
comedy and anti-theatre sensibility.
Claiming that all they wanted to be were "the Sex Pistols
of playwriting", Broken Gopher Ink followed a non-recognition ethic, which demanded focus on their work rather than on themselves.
Rumors abounded in theatre circles about their identity, but it is generally agreed that they are based in Colorado
, and that there are from two to four members at any given time. Their best known play, "M.I.B." was bastardized and made into a motion picture without their consent ("Men in Black
") and their monologue
play "My Heart and The Real World" ran for almost two years, on and off, in New York until it was finally killed off by 9/11
. Since then, "My Heart and the Real World" has been performed in the UK. Other plays by Broken Gopher Ink are "Stigmata", "Murder in the Men's Store", "Confetti", "Clazion Catches Light", and "My Apartment."
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
s whose quirky and vicious "comedies
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
" have been produced in theatres throughout the US and the UK. Starting in the 1980s, Broken Gopher Ink began a series of off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
shows, which later became known for their nihilistic
Nihilism
Nihilism is the philosophical doctrine suggesting the negation of one or more putatively meaningful aspects of life. Most commonly, nihilism is presented in the form of existential nihilism which argues that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value...
comedy and anti-theatre sensibility.
Claiming that all they wanted to be were "the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
of playwriting", Broken Gopher Ink followed a non-recognition ethic, which demanded focus on their work rather than on themselves.
Rumors abounded in theatre circles about their identity, but it is generally agreed that they are based in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, and that there are from two to four members at any given time. Their best known play, "M.I.B." was bastardized and made into a motion picture without their consent ("Men in Black
Men in Black (film)
Men in Black is a 1997 science fiction comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith and Vincent D'Onofrio. The film was based on the Men in Black comic book series by Lowell Cunningham, originally published by Marvel Comics. The film featured the creature effects...
") and their monologue
Monologue
In theatre, a monologue is a speech presented by a single character, most often to express their thoughts aloud, though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience. Monologues are common across the range of dramatic media...
play "My Heart and The Real World" ran for almost two years, on and off, in New York until it was finally killed off by 9/11
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. Since then, "My Heart and the Real World" has been performed in the UK. Other plays by Broken Gopher Ink are "Stigmata", "Murder in the Men's Store", "Confetti", "Clazion Catches Light", and "My Apartment."