Ampersand

Some couples are always X & Y. Other couples are always Y & X. And some are ambidextrous, as it were. I keep wondering why that is. Who you know first? Who you know better? (Who you're related to?) Shorter name (in syllables) first? Is it partly situational? The one with a title first? Or just an elusively-defined "it sounds better that way"? (For bi-gender couples: Always man first? Always woman first?)

Secret Lives of the Sexists

Last night I went to the first play of the season at Brandeis, Secret Lives of the Sexists (Charles Ludlam). It's an over-the-top sort of play, with the two Husband brothers (Izzy and Buddy) trying to get along with their wives (Fanny and Nadine), who each want more out of the relationship than either man seems able/willing to give. It's a farce, with all sorts of sexual innuendo (and more) played out, along with a large dash of cross-dressing (three as part of the plot. One was unclear as to whether it was scripted or the director decided it worked better that way). Lots of great lines. The timing of the actors was excellent, which made the humor work that much better. Kudos also to the costume designer, and the set designer, who made a (very pink) space that varied nicely with each change of scene. Even the set changes were entertaining, with 'security people' or 'movers' (from the company "Botoxin" :-) worked in.