Mil Grus
Reviewed by Dana Martin
Mil Grus at the Hollywood Fringe Festival
Through June 23
Mil Grus isn’t about anything in particular but one thing is clear: these oddly shaped idiots have a wickedly delightful sense of humor. The hour-long, mostly improvised comedy, devised by a bouffon troupe of the same name, delights audiences by practicing the gently provocative art of mockery.
Aside from a few silly dance numbers, this oddly charming production has no real story line. The ensemble basically just fuck around. They invite suggestions from the audience and then ridicule the offer, teasing, prodding and poking fun along the way — and all to delightfully entertaining effect. They roll around. They find stupid ways of descending stairs. They get audience members to apologize to them for idiotic reasons. It’s great fun.
Dean Evans directs a satisfying hour of absurdity that manages to constantly surprise the audience. The ensemble’s costumes are both uniform and unique, creating strange and other-worldly silhouettes. Lighting is simple and the ensemble make great use of darkness. They use flashlights, cover the audience with fabric, pass out handmade gifts.
Isaac Kessler, Jenson Titus Lavalee, Grayson Morris, Jeremy Sapp, Magi Calcagne and Helene Udy comprise this oddly shaped ensemble. While the performers take no prisoners, they also reveal their own inner sensitivities and personalities within the comedy. The more off-center the performance, the more the audience glimpses the person. Their ensemble work is a well-oiled machine. They take their time through their various sequences and allow the comedy to organically unfold.
Mil Grus is as ridiculous as it is delightful. The show is largely improvised so each performance is a new incarnation of nonsensical absurdity. Nothing is too sacred or too serious. How refreshing.
McCadden Place Theatre, 1157 N. McCadden Pl., West Hollywood; Fri., Jun. 21, 8:30 p.m.; Sun., Jun. 23, 7 p.m.; through Jun. 23. https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/5840. Running time: approximately one hour with no intermission.
