Trish Price (they/them) as Q in “Kissing in the Grocery Store” at Whim Productions (photo by Janetta Leigh)
In February, as KC Studio went to press, Whim Productions presented the world premiere of “Kissing in the Grocery Store” by Denver-based playwright Claire Carson. It’s a play, Carson said, for “anyone who has ever battled themselves, grappled with their past, or yearned for a life filled with more joy, more honesty and more room to grow.”
Those ideas captured the attention of Whim’s board members, who found the play and its theme of not letting yourself be stifled an ideal fit, both figuratively, for their mission as a mainstay of the LGBTQ+ theater community and physically, for their intimate theater space at 415 Prospect Ave.
“Kissing in the Grocery Store” tells the story of Quinn, affectionately known as “Q,” a vibrant 20-something navigating the bittersweet aftermath of her first queer love. Q’s girlfriend’s departure, prompted by Q’s inability to openly acknowledge their relationship, has left a big hole. In her quest for healing, Q finds herself caught in a comedic yet heartfelt battle between her inner voices, oscillating between self-help books, trusted confidants and the whimsical allure of a YouTube witch, all in pursuit of a spell for letting go.
The origins of “Kissing in the Grocery Store” are autobiographical. Carson recalled from her past, “a moment my partner and I shared in a grocery store in a small, conservative town in Texas… We went to kiss each other and then stopped ourselves.” For their own safety. “You never really know if you’re safe to show affection in public, as a queer person.”
It was while reflecting on “the complexities of queer affection in public” that her friend, theater artist Abigail Birkett, asked if Carson had a “queer, witchy play” for an upcoming festival. “Kissing in the Grocery Store” began as a one-act piece for that festival and was later expanded.
Carson’s previously produced pieces include “Hypochondria,” “Shadow Woman” and the intriguingly titled “Michelle with Wet Eyeballs,” which she self-produced in a transformed garage with friends.
Based now in Denver, Carson graduated in theater studies from Southern Methodist University. As an undergraduate she received an Exploration Grant to travel to Ethiopia, chronicled in her play “Lifted.” She was also a participant in the Dallas Theater Center Playwrights Workshop.
The production at Whim was “a multimedia experience told through time shifts and movement,” according to the press release. It was directed by Diana Watts (she/her) and featured Trish Price (they/them), Sandy Osborn (she/her), Adriana Randall (they/them) and Megan Reynolds (she/her).
Described by Carson as a “mix of humor, movement, magic, and poetry,” the play aimed to reach anyone who has wrestled with their identity, sought closure from the past, or craved a life of authenticity and growth.
For more information and upcoming shows, visit whimproductions.org.
