This lively, highly energetic show, produced by the Faction of Fools Theatre Company, features five comic vignettes, from a collection of nine, that are in rotation at the Mountain.
Faction of Fools, which is based at Gallaudet University, is one of the prominent Commedia dell’Arte companies in the United States. If you are not familiar with the physical comedy associated with Commedia dell’Arte, you are in for a special treat. The Faction of Fools’ company, a mixture of hearing and deaf actors, and sign interpreters, are an ensemble of skillful and artful performers.
The vignettes that I viewed included: ‘Pantalone Had A Farm’, ‘The Cockfight’, ‘Chicken Dinner’, ‘The Birds and the Bees’, and ‘Coq au Vin’. The two strongest vignettes, and the ones that I particularly enjoyed, were ‘Chicken Dinner’ and the sexy ‘Coq au Vin’.
‘Chicken Dinner’ featured actors Julie Garner, Cheryl Ann Gnerlich, Barbara Papendorp, and Denise Perrino. Their ensemble work, antics, and timing were a delight to behold.
‘Coq au Vin’, created, directed, and performed by John-Michael MacDonald, was the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Mr. MacDonald’s comic style, presence, and commanding voice lit up the stage. His vignette was truly memorable, but a less than strong ending weakened it some.
Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed the introductions of Artistic Director Matthew R. Wilson. He has a wonderful voice and sense of timing. I would have liked to have seen him as a narrator in character, rather than a figure head. He could have easily added another dimension to the performance piece.
Running time: 70 minutes.
2nd Annual Fool for All: Tales of Courage and Poultry information and tickets.
Robert Goldberg is an award-winning writer and stage director, a master acting teacher, and theater arts curriculum developer with years of experience on the East and West Coasts. Goldberg is the former Artistic Director of Integrated Creative Arts Network, Inc. in New York City, and MultiCultural Productions in Los Angeles. Produced plays include: Whispers Of An Asian Bride; Genesis: A Path Through Life; Just For Fun My Dears or Who Killed Bessie Miller?; Solemnia – A Quest For Peace; Prejudice Is The Way To Think If You’re Not Like Me You Really Stink!; Roughin’ It - The Musical; Yesterday’s Promises; and The 1940’s On Parade. Goldberg also co-wrote the film Four Day Shoot with former Los Angeles producer Larry Howard, and his screenplays – The Bugster and We May Be Young But We’re Not Dumb! were selected as entries at the Los Angeles Angel Citi Film Festival & Market. As an actor Goldberg is featured in the soon to be released short film Escaping Wonderland by director Matlock Bobechko, and he has been featured on TV on Rescue 911, and as a voice teacher/coach on That’s My Line.
