The Plagiarists to Return with 'UBU II'

Were we prepared for the first sound queue of tonight's cultured night of theater? No. Were we pleasantly surprised to see actress Jessica Saxvik as Mrs. Ubu contort and screw her face into all the looks we imagine ourselves to possess the morning after a midnight run to Taco Bell? Yes. Are we wondering just where Sound Designer Brendan Monte got his source material for all the bodily functions we heard through the night (and maybe a little concerned for his physical health)? Probably. And let's face it are we also concerned for the mental health of all the minds involved in crafting Ubu II: Electric Boog-Ubu)? Obviously, but none of these questions stifled our enjoyment of this laugh a minute sequel to Alfred Jarry's slightly better known Ubu Roi.

The Plagiarists' twisted brains brought a fresh interpretation of Jarry's formative play with King Ubu in 2013 and this is their follow up. Artistic Director and Mr. Ubu, Gregory Peter's adaptation of Ubu Enchaíné is not exactly for the faint of heart. Spoiler: it's a little political. While the original took on French turn of last century politics and bigotry, this is a no holds barred look at current American politics and bigotry, and it doesn't shy away from race wars, misogyny, nuclear warfare or even a certain media-minded White House resident. It is probably deserving of more "trigger" warnings than we can list and it might not be for all "snowflakes;" jury is out on whether 45 would throw a tantrum or claim it as a send-up in his honor. That said, don't let the political nature of the piece drive you away. It is mostly a fast-paced comedy that has the appearance of a dark cartoon come to life, it just happens to be insanely relevant if you read the news, or listen to the radio, or don't watch Fox. And while we wouldn't actively recommend 7 year olds see it, there's enough potty humor to keep your "bro" laughing while the more elevated humorists in the group take in all the verbal word play.

The experience starts the second you enter the Berger Park coach house. The "militia," played by Raymond Jacquet, Julia Stemper and Nick Strauss, serve as de facto ushers. They are rude and out to make a buck, but in the end harmless. I hate audience interaction but...this is mild...and if you think of it like trying to make the Buckingham Palace guards smile as you talk to the in-character trio it's almost even enjoyable.

This is the set-up to the Ubu's-that loveable little power hungry couple that invaded Poland in the first play-taking on a sequel. The couple awake, find themselves once again in a play and in America. Rather than try to take over the country as Ubu did the first time around, he attempts to do the opposite, which for him is becoming a servant. First he tries to join the militia (the ushers return with an appropriately obnoxious salute) led by Captain Sweetpea (Stephen McClure) who appears to be part Trump, part Trump's progeny. Ubu is a foreigner though so that doesn't go so well. Next we meet Derik Marcussen's Colonel Yougecock (what we imagine KFC's Colonel Sanders would be if he were alive today) and his niece Liberty (played with doe-eyed sincerity by Allison Grischow). Ubu fails at his attempt to become Liberty's servant and instead winds up in prison. Once there we learn that "slavery is freedom," which may or may not have been Jarry's original argument. Regardless of Jarry's message (or The Plagiarists comments on it), the Ubu's don't stay isolated for long and by the play's end a definitive way for Ubu to creatively solve everyone's problems presents itself...and he takes it.

Mixed into the satire turned cartoon turned insanity are "commercial breaks" reminiscent of 1960's "how to" videos deftly handled by Jyreika J. Evelyn Guest
and Clara Byczkowski. The pair try desperately to save the audience from the filth in front of them encouraging safer theatrical styles instead. Note: they are clad in matching jade print dresses we want desperately for costume designer Emma Cullimore to make available for public sale (the military garb and orange jumpsuits of the other characters are great, but Cullimore shows her gift for dressing people above and beyond with these two).

In the end we honestly...well...we don't know what we saw. It made us think (which we weren't planning on doing), but moreso it made us laugh...and it made us really want to watch the Golden Girls (there are cameos from so many characters it would be impossible to list them all). In a note from Peters he states "I believe the best way to combat bad ideas is with words and laughter." If we take his thoughts at face value than the Plagiarists have definitely delivered a play that combats bad ideas. It may very well take a second viewing to unpack all the banter, references, jabs and ridiculousness that director Nick Freed and the ensemble have put together. Luckily for us the run just started and the soundtrack's good enough to reel us (and the 7 yr old that enjoys a good fart track in us all) back for seconds.

Ubu II runs Thursday-Saturday, 7:30 PM through September 30 at The Berger Coach House. For tickets and more information visit www.theplagiarists.org.

Pictured: Jessica Saxvik and Gregory Peters as Mrs and Mr. Ubu (photo by Joe Mazza of BraveLux).

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