Fall EATfest, Series A: Strange Relationships

Emerging Artists Theatre is presenting their Spring EATfest 2007, a festival of 18 short plays.  The plays are broken down into three sets of six (upped from the Spring EATfest's 9 plays).  I caught Series A (and I'll be reviewing Series B later this week).

Series A includes: The List by Kristyn Leigh Robinson, directed by Molly Marinik, Water and Discarded Hair by Jessamyn Fiore, directed by Kel Haney, National Treasure by Jon Spano, directed by Derek Jamison, Tom Cruise, Get Off the Couch by Kevin Brofsky, directed by Aimee Howard, Emily Breathes by Matt Casarino, directed by Ryan Hilliard, and Astray by Corey Rieger, directed by Robert Cambeiro.

The List begins as a tired sketch we've seen a million times: Jenny, a neglected wife (Maya Rosewood) is trying to talk to her husband Max (Scott Katzman), who's too engrossed in watching his football game on TV to listen.  Fortunately, the sketch is developed into a more interesting character study, when Jenny reveals that she has a date with a celebrity that is on her "freebie" list.  Some fine acting work, especially from Rosewood, brings the characters to life, though I was a little confused that there was no television noise.

Water and Discarded Hair is an interesting play that begins with a woman (Tracee Chimo) cutting a man's (William Connell) hair.  The play is largely expositional, as they awkwardly remind each other how they got to this point.  He's apparently a married celebrity of some kind, and they carried on an affair- they're both still in love and now that he's left his wife, he wants to begin again with her and all she represents.  It's a strangely ritualistic piece, but Chimo and Connell invest their characters with just the right pathos and wonder, respectively.  I understand that it might have been difficult to stage, but I was surprised that there was no actual discarded hair onstage, especially since it was in the title (there was water).

National Treasure concerns two strangers who meet in a Broadway theater for a memorial for great stage actress Lydia North.  Melissa (a funny Valerie David) is excited and wants to chat, while Barry (the deadpan Marc Garber) isn't feeling so well and wants her to shut up.  This odd couple is united in their powerful attachment for the late Ms. North, and as they share their memories of the actress, they come to understand each other a bit better.  It's a fascinating and moving play, which ends somewhat inconclusively, but has a lot going for it.  Garber and David are perfection in their roles.

Tom Cruise, Get Off the Couch was, for me, the highlight of the series. Charlie (Joe MacDougall), a Tom Cruise fanatic, brings back to his apartment Tim (Kaolin Bass), a man he met at a bar, for some sex.  Charlie's plans are foiled by his large dog Tom Cruise (Jason O'Connell), who insists on inserting himself between the action.  Tom Cruise speaks his canine thoughts aloud, though he's not understood by anyone onstage.  An excellently funny piece- Kevin Brofsky (whose work I have enjoyed before) rises to new heights of whimsicality.  Tom Cruise trivia abounds.   MacDougall is hilarious bordering on creepy as the celeb-obsessed Charlie and Bass is amusingly put-upon as the "straight man", but it's O'Connell who steals the show with his outrageous doggy charm.

Emily Breathes is a more sober piece, about a young Gay man who comes to talk to a priest.  The play defies expectations (thank god) by not being about pederasty.  Hunter Gilmore does strong work as Bruce, as does Greg Homison as Father Zach. Astray is a cute piece about a crazy woman.  A strange woman (Geany Masai) has wandered into the apartment of Jack (Ron Bobst), and taken over, calling him Keith, and insisting that he call her Mom.  Things are partially cleared up when neighbor Doug (William Reinking) comes by and identifies "Mom" …or does he?  It's an amusing sketch, but doesn't quite reach the farce it seems to be trying for.  The three actors all do a fine job.

2007 Fall EATfest
The Grand Theatre (Producer¹s Club, 358 W 44th St, 3rd floor). Performances begin Tuesday, October 16th, 2007 and continue through Sunday November 4th, 2007.

Series A
Tuesdays and Fridays at 7 pm, Saturday at 2 pm
Series B
Wednesdays at 7 pm, and Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 5 pm
Series C
Thursdays at 7 pm, Saturdays at 5 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm

Tickets are $18.00 and $10.00 with student ID. TDF accepted. For reservations, please call (212) 352-3101 or visit www.eatheatre.org.

Photos:
1. Kaolin Bass, Joe MacDougall, & Jason O'Connell in Tom Cruise, Get off the Couch
2. Geany Masai and Ron Bopst in Astray

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