BWW Reviews: A TRILOGY OF PARODIES, a Trilogy of Fun
By: Teresa Rodrick Oct. 07, 2013
***DISCLAIMER: I WAS AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR TWO OF THE THREE PARODIES***
The night started at The Watercooler a bit differently from the last time I was there. The entrance was changed so that you entered the playing space directly and not through the offices of the companies housed there (The Watercooler is a business incubator). This gives a different experience from walking down a hallway and being given permission to enter. This was more like a family get-together and the Trilogies of Parodies were the buffet the family was going to gather a around.
The first of the parodies was "Lord of the Rings: the Short, Short version". This parody is all three movies, with a brief (30 seconds) discussion about the hobbit. All three movies total 9.3 hours yet this performance lasted just 35 minutes. I sat in the back and watched the four actors keeping up with each other, their different characters, and props as each scene changed every 2 - 5 minutes or so (some were just a run across the stage). If the laughter coming from the audience was any indication the LOTR parody was a hit!
The final parody in the trilogy was a repeat of the year before, and brought back due to popular demand. "Star Wars Abridged". This was the shortest, quickest show of the night. (This is the show I was not directly involved in.) Two actors, 30 minutes. I was concerned about one of the two actors because he was in Lord of the Rings earlier. But he made it with what appeared to be minimal damage. All six movies. All 13.28 hours, in 30 minutes. The laugher was coming just as quickly as the actors were moving around the stage and saying their lines.
Now, don't think that these shows were completely loyal to the scripts, per se. There were nods to other fandoms throughout the night. There were references to Airplane, Hunger Games, Doctor Who, Princess Bride, Monty Python, and so many more. It was such a fun night, the best part for me was enjoying watching the actors and the audience having as much fun as each other throughout each performance.
I look forward to the other offerings of Chaotic Acts of Theatre for the Boise Public to enjoy!
Photo Credit(s): All photos taken by Paul Budge of Budge Photography
Top Photo: (right to left) Cole Niblett, Cynthia Tank, and Ben Hamill (not pictured- Karl C Johnson)
Center Photo: (right to left) Robina Bant, Karen Jeanne, and Erin Edwards (not pictured - Melanie Falls)
Bottom Photo: (right to left) Jon Buffington and Ben Hamill
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