THEATER REVIEW
Random Acts of Comedy: Delightful way to spend an evening
Random Acts of Comedy is a light-hearted fast paced comedy with plenty of laughs and a delightful way to spend an evening in Key West.
This fun filled production now playing at the Red Barn Theatre caps off the season on just the right notes. It is a unique combination of seven stories with five different directors (all but one is a McDonald). The writers range from Shel Silverstein to Christopher Durang and Rich Orloff.
Starting with The Roof Top Lesson, the audience is taught about the pitfalls of play writing with stop action/motion and replays. The moral here is to be careful what you teach, as the students take over the lesson. Sarah Bella, Susannah Wells and Karl Stahl kick-start the show/give the show a running start.
A Tall Order is a more serious observation of the interaction between males and females during the dating process. This is a story of analysis beyond belief and the angst over deciding what to order in a restaurant on the second date. Janeen Gracer’s inner turmoil is exposed to the audience, but not to her date, Michael Pallansch, until the end.
Annie Miners is absolutely brilliant as Mary Abigail Carstairs-Sweetbuckle in The Gay Agenda. Her timing and delivery were spot-on as the religiously righteous yet fearful woman who sees Gay people everywhere. Stephen Colbert should take note !
The two dolphins, played by David Black and Michael Pallansch, were delightful as the romantic dolphin couple waiting for a train. The dolphin sounds that David made during the vignette were hysterical. Whoever made their costumes was a genius as the flippers and tight fit were a perfect compliment to their dramatic gestures. Robin Deck’s face was so expressive; words were not necessary to convey her thoughts and emotions.
Funeral Parlor was an eye opening deep dive into grief. David Black’s character was socially awkward and yet he was able to comfort the widow, a proper Episcopalian, Janeen Gracer, like no one else. He was persistent and helped her to release those deep emotions we all experience when you have lost a loved one, and in the process we all learned about keening.
Shel Silverstein’s “And then from out of the wall—there came…” was a sassy romantic fantasy beautifully delivered by Sarah Bella and Cameron Zbikowski. The delight and sorrow for what could have been is heartfelt. And yet we are encouraged to believe the plaster will be breached once again, when Mom and Dad aren’t looking.
Mothra vs. The Casting Director is the classic portrait of an aging actor, trying out for a role for which he is ill suited. David Black, Susannah Wells, Karl Stahl and Sarah Bella have fun delivering this strange yet compelling story of a man who thinks he is a moth.
Random Acts of Comedy is playing at The Red Barn Theatre until May 31. The Red Barn Theatre is located at 319 Duval St, Key West. Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 305-296-9911 or on-line at www.redbarntheatre.com.
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