BWW Reviews: THE PENIS CHRONICLES - 8 Monologues in Search of a Play

THE PENIS CHRONICLES/by Tom Yewell/directed by Randal Kleiser/Coast Playhouse /thru December 14, 2014

A troupe of eight talented actors perform essentially eight separate monologues during this 90-minute show, Tom Yewell's THE PENIS CHRONICLES. No real beginning-middle-end plot here, as each story presented as interchangeable stand-alone pieces. A passing mention of previous characters' names as an older character's children gives a small hint of any continuity. The only interaction between the characters occurs at a Manhattan street corner in the entr'acte for a couple of minutes. Then the parade of eight skilled thespians come out on stage one-by-one to share their penis-related tales.

The first monologue by Kyle Eastman as the 16-year-old Trey still not having hit puberty starts off promisingly as he relates his trials and tribulations of coping with his gym showers' tauntings. Ritchie Hoffman as Brin reveals the life-changing night he experienced with his father sharing a blanket in a cold, dark cabin. Ali Zahiri struts his stuff as Roman the escort who guarantees the carnal pleasures you pay for receive priority over his own. Ozzie Rodriguez' most successful of this ensemble in his conveying of Artemis' prom night enthusiasm and his devastation over the car crash killing his prom queen before they had their first time together. Rodriguez hits all the right notes vividly describing his highs of the events leading up to the fatal accident he caused, and the lows of its unsettling aftermath. Trevor Scott Campbell recounts Shane's closeted longings for the blond circus boy on a magazine cover. Ethan Rains explains the torment and invisibleness of being the HIV-positive Tor. Kelly Franett laments of this character Stanton turning 67 and the dependency he now has on viagra. Jade Willis flaunts and preens as Rhapsody Fontaine, the in-demand female prostitute with Rhapsody's 10-inches intact.

Since different sets or locations don't seem to have any import, why not start off the performance with an intro in a group setting. Not a street corner, but a support group meeting where participants each get up to share their penis trauma. Some reactions/interactions from the others might make for increased audience involvement and empathy.

Randal Kleiser directs these monologues to dramatic effect.

All auditioning actors should see THE PENIS CHRONICLES for some juicy monologues ripe for their initial casting readings.

http://www.plays411.com/penischronicles

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