|
Volume 3, Issue 12
June 7 - June 21, 2001
Acting Up
Cilicia Yakhlef
MAKE IT UP
@
ACME X
Bovine Metropolis Theater
1527 Champa Street, 303-758-4722
Thurs.-Sat. 8 pm, $15-$17
www.bovinemetropolis.com
Bovine Metropolis Theater marks its
first anniversary with Acme X, an improv
style comedy revue that runs through August 18. The production is
notable for many reasons, not the least of
which is the amazing success achieved by
the Bovine Metropolis Theater during the
space of one short year.
The Bovine, like its predecessor, the
Changing Scene, was founded by a married
couple with the purpose of bringing
quality theater to Denver. The space has
been home to regular productions of local
work for nearly half a century, and one
can still smell the static shock of past
actors, poets, dancers and playwrights
whose shadows now populate the black-box
stage.
The old theatre has snuggled right up to
Eric Farone and Denise Maes in their
endeavor to found a theatre dedicated to
long-form improvisational sketch comedy.
Improv comedy is an American original,
born in depression era Chicago as a
way to teach theater to underprivileged
youth via free form games. Viola Spolin,
a Chicago social worker, is credited as the
founder of improvisational comedy. It
was her son, Paul Sills, however, who
gained acclaim for the art form when he
opened Second City in Chicago.
Eric Farone got his start at Second City.
He recently brought his talents (along
with his wife and a few other things-- like
underwear) to Denver. The resulting
mayhem has earned a glowing reception
among Denver's theater community, and
the space now has a hearty following.
In addition to running various weeknight
events, Eric and Denise stage a regular
weekend comedy revue. Acme X will be
the revue that runs through the summer,
and it shares some common threads
with previous shows. All of the
plays are written improv style,
meaning the actors play
around until they find a character,
then they all collaborate to work
out plot, dialogue, etc. Original
songs are composed, roles are fleshed out,
everyone is happy, and then they start all over
again. The end result is a revue
comprised of several short, satirical, one-act
sketches. Each is unique, but all are
generally laced up with a common theme.
Acme X toys with issues confronting
modern society and life in America's
newest wasteland-- the suburbs. The
sketches poke fun at the hypocrisies of
religion, the incipient impact of the Bingo
phenomena, the metonomy represented
by the parking dilemma in Denver, and
dating problems encountered by cheerleaders,
just to mention a few.
Jason Rudofsky shakes things up early
with his elaborate portrayal of a freak-show
Nieman Marcus security guard.
Rudofsky's very physical, well timed,
dramatic sense of comedy won him a
recent HBO special. No wonder. The guy
takes over the stage for this over-the-edge
skit.
Lisa Hickenbottom creates the dream role
of the decade, "Self-actualized Barbie," a
big beautiful doll in a gold lamé robe
who's happy with who she is. Skipper's
evolution, though, is as stunted as her
growth and she thinks there's something wrong
with Barbie for being comfortable
in her own skin. Barbie calls the cops and
"Malibu police Ken" shows up.
He thinks Barbie's cool, but he'd feel better
about himself if he were "anatomically
correct."
Don Nyal as Vinchenze, and Jason Rudofsky
as Antonio take the boxers/briefs
debate to new heights in a bit about
Vinchenze's Speedo sex appeal. Nyal's
Speedo is loaded with something, and
while I'm not sure it's sex appeal, he
brings the audience to their knees-- a feat
not many men can perform.
A bit about Krispy Kreme infidelity plays
on the inherent sensuality of the disgustingly
named donut, and brings to mind
the question I've been asking myself ever
since I heard of the things:why would
anyone name a glazed cake with a hole in
the middle Krispy Kreme, and then
expect people to act as if the things were
as good as ... well, sex? Worse yet, why
does it work, and ... never mind, I'm
grossing myself out. Suffice it to say, the
wife in this sketch never gets any.
My favorite bit though, was the "Park
Meadow Posse" piece, which showcased
the quandary of parents of wanna-be-Biskits
everywhere:how can we take this
shit for real? As pubescent white-bread
boys, Don Nyal and Jason Rudofsky roll
out their best Beastie rap talents for a
barbecue competition at the mall. Saggin'
50-inch jeans sweep the stage like industrial
buffers, and triple digit shades shout
"I think I'm Slim," while the two teeny-boppers
fix the mean look to their faces,
cross their arms and take up their baddest
barbecue rhythm for "Insane with the
Propane." Their dad, inept and stupid as
we know all dads are, echoes the sentiment
of many when he points out (in rap)
"My two sons think they come from the
ghetto...." There's nothing to do after that
but sit back and laugh. Even my 13-year-old
daughter couldn't stop laughing at
this one.
Shows at the Bovine always include an
after-show improv session. The actors
choose an audience member or two, and
either make fun of them, or probe them
for inspiration. Either way, things begin
to snowball, and all of the cast picks up
the bit and they do their improv thing, to
the great enjoyment of the audience. It's a
cool way for the cast to stay on top of
their art, but it's also a great way for the
audience to see how a show like this
develops. It is a living example of the art
of improvisational comedy, and well
worth staying for.
Eric Farone gets kudos for direction, as
does Michael Lansville for his contribution
of live music. Lisa Hickenbottom,
Brian McManus, Don Nyal, Jason
Rudofsky, Carl Wedell and Suzie Yazzie
all get applause on a nightly basis at the
Bovine Metropolis Theater. Believe me,
they deserve it. When you're ready to
lighten up a little, check out Acme X. A
--Cilicia Yakhlef
|
