Saturday, April 27, 2013

KREMLIN COMEDY--REVIEW


Katie Slattery Lamson is a graduate of the UL-Lafayette Department of  Performing Arts and a teacher for talented theatre students in Iberia Parish.  This is her first review.

Kremlin Komedy is an incredible collaboration of artists. Four directors and seven actors put together a series of nine comedic short plays by and about Russians- the perfect theatrical event to start its run during Festival International de Louisiane.

Written by Russian absurdist Daniil Kharms and American comedic David Ives, these plays weave together a night of intense laughter.

Travis Johnson’s set quite literally explored the softer side of the Iron Curtain. A pile of furniture and other items are stacked and lit so beautifully; exposed by a delicate patchwork curtain. The contrast of light and shadow on this mound of debris is quite stunning.  Items from this pile are used to create the world of each play, bringing forth purpose and meaning to disheveled ruin.

Andre Trahan’s direction of MASHKIN KILLED HOSHKIN is impeccable. This play breaks down any and all social barriers we have while waiting for a train. I forgot I was watching live theatre and was transported into the world of silent film and slapstick. Dustin LaFleur (Mashkin) and Bryce Romero (Koshkin) had incredible chemistry on stage! (Something I can speak highly of for all the actors throughout this show!) This comedy was so well directed down to the slightest glance that the audience was sent into hysterics over and over again, and just when you think it couldn’t be funnier – BAM! It hits you again!

I’ve seen performances by Aren Chaisson in the past and he is adoringly shameless. He will do anything for a role and tonight was no exception! He held roles in several of tonight’s pieces. In WHAT THEY SELL IN STORES NOWADAYS, directed by Nathan Gabriel, Chaisson brought us into his world using nothing more than a plastic satchel and his incredible use of physicality, especially in his facial expressions.

In FEDYA DAVIDOVICH (PARTS I and II) directed by Alecia Chaisson, Rachel Chambers plays alongside Aren Chaisson. This series will absolutely take your breath away! After watching this, I guarantee that you will be plagued with one question… Was the butter actually REAL?!

Chris Matochi commands the stage in REHABILITATION. With once small shift of his eyebrow or the slightest twist of his head, he will turn you on or completely disgust you.

VARIATIONS ON THE DEATH OF TROTSKY is reason enough to see the entire show. Directed by Travis Johnson and performed by Vincent Barras, Nancy Ramirez, and Chris Matochi, we are given several comedic variations on, as the title suggests, the death of Leon Trotsky. Barras and Ramirez make an excellent Mr. and Mrs. Trotsky, moving from scene to scene with such grace. I do wish that the timing were a little tighter between variations because we see Trotsky rise from the dead a split second after the lights on the new variation have already come up. But, hey, it didn’t KILL the mood!

Brady McKellar’s costumes are, of course, stunning, and I am especially impressed with Trotsky’s hat. Fashioned with a mountain climbers’ axe, the hat was worn flawlessly by Mr. Barras.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that stage manager, Kelsey LaCoste, called an incredibly tight show. The actors’ diligence during set changes combined with traditional Russian music made transitions between each play incredibly smooth.

While the intimate setting of Theatre 810 is perfect for this show, anything staged on the ground was difficult to see from the fourth (and final) row. It is not distracting, but I would recommend that you get to the theatre early enough to grab a closer seat.

Kremlin Komedy is running Saturday April 27 at 7:00 pm during Festival International and it will also run the following weekend, May 2-4. Each performance is at 7:00 pm. The entire production runs nearly 45 minutes. Admission is $10.

If you've ever wondered what could possibly be more disgusting than having your wife clip her toenails at the dinner table, then you MUST go see Kremlin Komedy!
---Katie Slattery Lamson

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