If you think improvisational comedy is all about "Whose Line Is It Anyway?," you really ought to go to the Tricklock Theater this month to check out the "May Madhouse Comedy Fair."
The festival's title isn't just a cheeky reference to comedy craziness. One of the three productions, the play "Dandelion Clockwork," is actually set in a madhouse.
The play, directed by and including Tricklock Company member Shenoah Allen, is a dark, yet hilarious, piece centered around a young girl, Catherine - played by Kate Schroeder - who is abandoned in a mental institution whose staff members are being dispatched rather gruesomely. Also in the production are Tricklock members Byron Laurie and Juli Etheridge.
The other showpiece of the festival is "Sabotage III," the latest installment from the improvisational comedy team of Allen and Mark Chavez - a duo renowned for entertaining the audience with nothing more than two folding chairs and two pairs of pajamas between them.
The final production is the "Down Home Improv," which features the pair interacting and creating comedy on the spot with a revolving cast of "local celebrities."
Of the two weekend productions, "Dandelion Clockwork" is the more provocative. The play, which was written by Allen, Etheridge, Laurie, Schroeder and Emily Westerman using improvisation, fuses elements of the Grand Guinol horror theater in Paris with film noir and elements of silent films of the '20s. The result is a production that will make you laugh one moment and gasp in horror the next.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
The short, hour-long play is done with an absolute minimum stage setting, which maximizes the physical theater aspects of the performances. Anyone familiar with Allen's work will appreciate his excellent not-quite-mad scientist depiction of the Doctor. The rest of the ensemble shines just as much. Schroeder plays the innocent Catherine convincingly, while Laurie shines as the Sister, playing a nun who has the strict demeanor you'd expect from someone forced to serve in such a severe place. Etheridge plays the devious ditz Miss Davis with flair and precision. The foursome play the piece for laughs and gasps, never letting the answers to the murder mystery out. The shocker ending is more than worth the price of admission.
In contrast, "Sabotage III" is almost entirely improvised. And on Friday that showed more than most nights. The performance included many of the duo's best characters - Desert Face Sam, Jennifer and her hapless Dad - as well as some new ones like Tarzan and "Susan." For those used to the precision of previous Sabotage productions, "Sabotage III" was a bit clunky at times.
But it was still well-paced and performed better than most comedy, live or otherwise, is done these days and did have more than its share of shining moments. The dialogue between old favorite Nigel and Old Man Fall was particularly funny, with Nigel convincing Old Man Fall that he is just as good as Old Man Winter. The bit between Jennifer and her Dad was also very funny, as usual. You can be sure that both productions will continue to improve as the month passes.
"Dandelion Clockwork" plays Friday and Saturday at 9 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. through Sunday, June 2. "Sabotage III" plays Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m., also though June 2. "Down Home Improv" plays Wednesday, May 15 and Wednesday, May 22 at 8 p.m.
All three productions are at the Tricklock Theater, 112 Washington St. SE. Tickets are $8 Student/Seniors, $10 general admission. You can get $2 off to see both weekend shows on the same night.
For more information or reservations, call the Tricklock Company at 254-8393.
