April 2011: Humana Festival

Like last year's festival, there were two clear standouts among the seven full-length plays presented in three theaters:

Elemeno Pea by Molly Smith Metzler

The fish-out-of-water story of what happens when tough, no-nonsense, 20-something Devon goes to visit her sister Simone at the Martha's Vineyard compound where she personally assists a super wealthy couple on the verge of divorce. What is supposed to be a relaxing sisters-only weekend is hilariously disrupted when Michaela, the lady of the house, is forced to walk back to the luxurious vacation home that comprises the set after her husband takes off in their private jet without her. This biting social comedy along the lines of God of Carnage definitely has commercial potential and features a ripe part (that of Michaela) perfect for any number of Hollywood actresses that can chew Broadway scenery. This is the rare case where I think a play actually needs to be "2 acts with intermission" instead of today's "long one-act" trend. I loved all five characters (including the gardener and Simone's new socialite boyfriend) and wanted to spend a lot more time with them! Spreading the action out over the entire weekend would also make some of the characters' decisions seem not so abrupt. 

Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them by A. Rey Pamatmat

This three-character drama about two young siblings abandoned by their father after their mother passes away packs an emotional wallop. Despite a few minor issues (for instance it's hard to comprehend why their off-stage father, a doctor who lives elsewhere, has abandoned them and is so reluctant to give them money for groceries, etc.), this is a deeply moving story about three kids (the third is a friend who gets kicked out of his house for being gay) having to grow up too fast. This production was notable for some truly great acting by three fine young actors!

And, the not-so-great:

BOB by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb

It's hard for any show to maintain the level of hilarity this one attempts, especially when the jokes and situations the main character, Bob, finds himself in are so lame. This from-birth-to-death story (think Forrest Gump for the stage) featured a hard working chorus of four actors playing all the other characters in Bob's life. Unfortunately, I just didn't care about any of them, including the title character.

A Devil at Noon by Anne Washburn

This play has an interesting premise where an author and the minor characters in his books collide realities. Though the action ramps up late in the play when the characters finally figure out who they are, the whole thing is utterly forgettable.

The Edge of Our Bodies by Adam Rapp

The experimental piece chosen for Humana each year is usually a unforgettable and highly theatrical experience. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case this time around as the audience sat and watched the main character, an upperclass schoolgirl, read from her diary about the people and problems in her life. While she did finally get up and move around, the audience wasn't afforded the same luxury. On a positive note, the lighting and set in Humana's black box theater, while simple, were very effective.

Maple and Vine by Jordan Harrison

This was the other play with an interesting premise: a young, but unfulfilled(-by-the-modern-world) couple decide to live in a gated community that strictly abides by what it was like to live in the 1950s. Unfortunately, the main couple's action is overshadowed by that of a supporting couple whose reasons to live in a regressed state are much more obvious (he's gay...yawn) and not as interesting.

The End

The scenes concerning the end of the world that comprise this collective piece written by various authors for year's acting interns were hit and miss, but allowed the actors to show off their varying degrees of talent. Definitely not as fun as previous showcases.