Don't be a Smartass - Just See It

The closest thing I can compare Commedia Dell Smartass to is an aged bottle of wine. When I, the wine novice, set out to purchase a bottle, I first take a quick overview of what the wine contains. I then read a brief description about it, mentally compare it to other similar brands or flavors I've had in the past and then make my decision on whether or not to purchase it. It was very much in this manner that I arrived upon the decision to see Commedia Dell Smartass. From the overview I was given about the play, it looked different enough to pique my interest while at the same time familiar to my tastes. 

 

However, despite the setup I had given myself when walking into the theater, I left unsure of how I felt. I liked it but I didn't. I thought it was trying too hard to make a point but also thought the familiar story line was repackaged in such an ingenious and clever way, that the points were worth taking note. After the curtain closed, I was confused about my opinion and decided to take a line from Scarlet O'Hara and "think about it tomorrow." Well, it just so happened that the more I thought about it the next day and the more I let the flavor of performance soak into my brain, I realized that Commedia Dell Smartass was a stellar a production that deserved many laurels. So buyer beware, this play may take you on a roller coaster opinions, but just like all the finer things in life – it gets better with age.

An excellent example of Commedia Dell Smartass's use of the Ohio Theater's performance space. 

 

Commedia Dell Smartass peaks into the lives of four teenagers during high school as the audience is witness to this somewhat dark comedy of true teenaged struggles and ridicule. The play, written by Sonya Sobieski in many ways is influenced by the 1980's classic The Breakfast Club while staying true to the characteristics of a "commedia." The four characters, the fencer, the girl scout, Henry and the Clown represent different walks of life and stereotypical characters that high school often presents. The fencer portrays himself as "Joe Cool" and a golden child who has been given the finer opportunities in life with more worldly experience than his fellow peers. He befriends Henry, who is the shy and dorky classmate, almost as if he is a charity case. Henry, when challenged by the fencer, musters up the courage to ask out Shelia, an over ambitious girl scout who has forgone a social life to work hard for a successful future and get into a good college. Clown, dressed exactly as that, is the unknown factor in this mismatched group of individuals. Clown is subject to unruly criticism and jokes by the fencer, but preserves by the friendship to the girl scout, where clown is recognized as nothing more than a supportive listener in the girl scout's self absorbed world.

 

Once the initial dynamic of the group is defined, the audience then begins understand how roles and original impressions can quickly change through the artful use of each costume. Defined by what they wear, Sobieski dips into the commedia's use of masks to further enhance each character. The girl scout proudly displays a sash full of badges visualizing her lifetime commitment to being successful and always doing the "right" thing. The fencer is always seen in his white fencing outfit, sometimes with the screened fighting mask and sometimes without. The clown adorns baggy white pants and a top with three big black buttons down the front. Clown's face is dressed in white make-up with enhanced eyes and lips which easily standout due to the lack of hair around the clown's face. Instead, clown wears a black hat with the outfit throughout the performance.

 

 

As fast paced dialogue goes back and forth, the true inside of each character slowly creeps out onto the stage, making the audience suddenly rethink each character's role and how their costume now means something completely different than originally thought. Is the girl scout's sash really a representation of accomplishment, or is it more of a monkey on her back that she just can't shake? It represents all that she has been, but does it foreshadow all that she'll ever be? The fencer is always ready for a challenge, a gentlemen's fight.  But are his defenses always up and is he always ready to slide on his fencing mask because he's protecting more than just his face? The clown doesn't talk and doesn't like for people to play with the hat. Is there a reason for never revealing a true identity or does the clown act that way in order to be anything to anyone?

 

The characters, which the audience starts out thinking are easily definable, forces you to consider new interpretations.  Clever tricks, disgraceful love intrigues and heroes mistaken for villains, suddenly throw a new spin on everything the audiences knows – forcing them to really get to the core of each character. Henry, the shy and dorky kid, is the only character whose costume remains consistent, lending the audience to believe that no matter what his personal problems are, he is the only one who stays true to himself.   

 

While the audience is on the chase to figure out the true identity of each character, mean spirited tricks are set in place by the fencer to outwit the simpleton-like Henry, who has found re-newed happiness from his relationship with the girl scout. It is during this part of the performance that I offer my only criticism. Near the conclusion of the play, there is an extremely important moment between the characters of Henry and the fencer. Although the Ohio Theater in Soho offers a wonderfully unique and open performance space which broadens the use of the fore, mid and background of the stage, I missed this critical part between Henry and the fencer which I presumed to be the climax of the play. Both characters were so much in the foreground, that audience members in front of me blocked this crucial part from my vision. Thankfully, I was able to assume what had taken place, but this being such a keystone moment, it is one not to miss.

 

Commedia Dell Smartass is smart, well written, well directed and well acted. No character is over performed. Instead all four actors, Jesse Hooker, Debargo Sanyal, Jessi Campbell and Nurit Monacelli are savvy enough to realize it is more important to let the script speak for itself. The actors, writer and director present the audience with a play that takes unsuspected turns and encourages you think. And even if you're like me and had to think about it a little more about it then you initially imagined, you are still rewarded with a great piece of theater that is not to be missed.

 

Commedia Dell Smartass runs Mondays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM through October 9 at the Ohio Theater on

66 Wooster Street

. Tickets are $19 with Mondays being "pay-what-you-will" (at the door only) performances. Purchase tickets at 212-868-4444 or www.smarttix.com .

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