"...of all the FUCKING zombies in this FUCKING graveyard!"

The first, but not the last, laugh-out-loud line -- yes, okay, a lot of it's in the delivery -- from LIVING DEAD IN DENMARK, a production of The Vampire Cowboys Theater Co. The VCTC, according to the program, "creates and produces new works based in stage combat with a comic book edge that explore complex subject matter." And does it fabulously, too. The plot of this one revolves around a war between humans and the world of magic, which includes zombies. The characters are all out of Shakespeare, including Juliet, Lady Macbeth and Ophelia as kick-ass zombie-slayers... or are they zombies, too? My New York Liberty buddies, Warren and JL, saw this play in its first production, and suggested we see the revival, being put on as part of the First National Asian American Theater Festival. Since I was unable to resist the idea of a revival of something called LIVING DEAD, we went. Okay, I can see what you're thinking, but take my word: it was terrific.

And here's the thing about New York: the actors, the playwright, the composer, the choreographer, everyone was wonderful -- and none of them were names I knew. Even with gentrification smoothing rough edges and raising prices all over town, New York is still attracting more talent than we know what to do with. I wish everyone connected with this show long lives and successful careers.