Mono will be running on a staggered schedule for the remainder of its performances, with the final show culminating in a closing cocktail party.
The singular play opened on Sept. 14, 2000, at the Lower East Side's Surf Reality (since defunct) after previews from Aug. 11. The title has several meanings. Most significantly, Mono is a play in which the 13 characters, all barflies, don't believe in dialogue. Hence, there are a lot of monologues and one-sided discussions. This state of affairs proves interesting, text-wise, since among the solipsists at this tavern are a mute and a sock puppet.
The roles were originally filled by actors of varying ethnic background, including Japanese, Israeli and Indian performers. Each actor gets a chance to play several different parts, as the performers rotate assignments every week.
Steven Tanenbaum, the author of Mono, was hospitalized, after a truck accident left him with both legs shattered. Tanenbaum was crossing 28th Street at Ninth Avenue on March 4 when a truck making a left turn went against the light and hit him, breaking his legs. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was set to undergo reconstructive surgery on March 8. Tanembaum was recently released form the hospital.
Tanenbaum, who also directs Mono, is the author of such works as Q101 and Blink.