We caught up with director Sudi Green to talk about their new Edinburgh Festival Fringe Show, Worse Than You. You can book tickets for the show here.
STARBURST: How would you pitch Worse Than You to an elderly relative who loves to pretend they’re shocked by rude words?
Ugh, you know how the current generation is obsessed with actually getting to the root of their problems? And refuse to shut up and stuff their emotions in a box to be buried with? I know, I wish they would too. Well this play is about a young person who went to a GOOD college and is delightfully neurotic in a ‘Monica from Friends’ way!
And how would you pitch it to someone who is a huge fan of Captain America?
Big bang. Crash! Boom. LOUD Music. Sexy girl. Oh no, crying? But don’t worry, haha! Sexy girl again. She crazy. But hot. Oooh singing!
What are the origins of this show?
Mo is my best friend, and we had driven nine hours to Sedona, Arizona, for her birthday so we could lay down with horses for healing.
Not quite sure the details because we never ended up going to the horses because the horse healing woman had a chaotic energy over text. Anyway! I know Mo is so creative, funny, cares about poetry, which I only pretend to care about.
But lately, she had had trouble getting a creative project off the ground. I suggested she do something like a one-woman show because she could work more independently, and it would be more of a streamlined road to fruition. Obviously, she could depend on me because I had driven 9 hours not to cuddle a horse for her. The rest is history!
Why do we dwell on past relationships so much?
One of my favorite phrases is ‘what other people think about me is none of my business.’ This is because if I focus on other people’s opinions, I will let them dictate my actions, which is no fun. But I can only do that now because, as an adult, I have something really cool called ‘a sense of self.’ But when we’re growing up, we can only form ourselves in response to past relationships. There’s no other data and other people are feedback to how we understand ourselves. And hopefully, you can just avoid assholes that will throw you off.
What’s been the hardest part of the production so far?
We have done this show in many different theatres with fearless techs who jump right in, but there is never enough tech rehearsal time. Whatever tech time we agree to I need to add four hours and a bottle of wine.
What is the most important lesson to learn during rehearsal?
Cut a bitch. Cut cut cut cut, no one was ever mad anything was too short. When something is shorter, dinner is earlier.
What has been the most ridiculous moment so far?
There is a moment in the play where Mo drops a massive Hitachi wand vibrator and it vibrates in circles on the floor. There was one time in rehearsals when the vibrator fell off the stage and vibrated into the audience. I’m praying to the Fringe gods that happens again!
Why the Edinburgh Fringe?
We’ve had many friends who have gone to Fringe and describe it as an experience like none other. Also, after the play, people often ask what’s next, and we can say, “We’re going to Fringe!” And then people smile and nod really hard and there’s a look of vague approval in their eyes that puts me at ease.
What’s your next big project after the Fringe has ended?
I’m really excited about the podcast the show has inspired, Worse Than You with Mo Fry Pasic, where we talk to artists about their process and also get to gab and chi chi chi. The first iteration of the pod is Mo talking to other Fringe artists, but we’re planning to continue beyond Fringe. Can’t wait to chat with other amazing creatives about what did and didn’t work on their journey!
Simpsons or Futurama?
Simpsons. “My cat’s breath smells like cat food.”
Captain America or Batman?
Batman. Cooler house, but I miss the nipples on the bat suit from the Joel Schumacher movies. Bring back the nip!
The Little Mermaid or Lilo & Stitch?
Sudi Green: Lilo & Stitch. I saw Stitch three times in one weekend recently and it felt like a sign. One Stitch was hanging from a rearview mirror covered in rosaries. Bless me, Stitch!
Truth or Beauty?
Sudi Green: Truth because I love when something is so real that the only thing you can do is laugh.
Learn more about the show here. And read the interview with Mo here. You can find the Worse Than You Show Podcast wherever you find good podcasts, and you can book for Sudi & Mo’s live show here.
