[ssba]
Adam & Eve . . . And Steve
Review by Neal Weaver
Theatre Asylum
Through June 27
RECOMMENDED:
All is not well in the Garden of Eden. When God (William Knight) sets out to create Adam and Eve, he reckons without the devil Beelzebub (Weston Nathanson), the now fallen angel. Beelzebub is a pixyish and vain bon vivant, with an appetite for martinis and mischief. He gets the show going with a song called “It’s All about ME!”
When God creates Adam (Michael Spaziani), he promises to provide his creation with a companion named Eve. But the Devil beats him to the punch, and creates a male companion named Steve (Jotape Lockwood), who is a prototypical gay boy. The two become fast friends, but there’s no sex: they haven’t yet tasted the forbidden fruit that brings the knowledge of good and evil — and, apparently, sex. God attempts to put things right by creating Eve (Kelley Dorney), a pretty honey blonde with a taste for feminism. He warns her not to eat the apples, but Beelzebub assures her the fruit is not an apple but a pomme. She bites into it, and immediately becomes lusty and sexually aware. When Steve is also persuaded to take a bite of the apple, he’s immediately transformed into a randy, gay, would-be seducer. Eve and Steve enthusiastically compete for Adam’s affection, but he’s mystified by the whole business because he hasn’t yet sampled the apple.
This neat, crowd-pleasing little musical is the creation of Chandler Warren (book and lyrics), and Wayne Moore, who wrote the music and serves as musical director. It’s all a bit predictable, but it’s cheerful and amusing, the cast of five is attractive and lively, and Ronnie Marmo directs with panache.
My Monkey Productions and Eden Entertainment at the Lillian Theatre, 6322 Santa Monica Blvd., Hlywd. https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/2442
Skitso!
Review by Neal Weaver
Underground Theatre
Closed
RECOMMENDED:
In his one-man show, Australian actor-comedian Jim Dailakis, the son of Greek parents living in Perth, tells us about the problems of growing up with a physique like a stick figure, and a startling resemblance to a little girl. He was bullied endlessly, but consoled himself by conjuring up his pop culture heroes to advise and encourage him. And that’s where his formidable skills as an impressionist come in.
In addition to providing a portrait of his Scottish martial arts instructor, complete with a rich Scots burr, he treats us to impersonations of Bruce Lee, who urges him to take up karate, and startlingly accurate sketches of Al Pacino and Dustin Hoffman, who advise him to go to NYC and enroll at the Lee Strasberg Studio to study acting. (His evocation of Hoffman is uncannily accurate.
His heroes become his mentors, and eventually include both Rocky and his creator Sylvester Stallone, all four of the Beatles, and Robert DeNiro, among others. (Dailakis bears no resemblance to DeNiro, but puts on the DeNiro persona like a second skin.)
Impressionists are not generally regarded as proponents of high art, but when their work is as skillful and finely observed as Dailakis’ work, they earn that status. If there is a flaw in his performance, it is that it goes on a little too long. It would benefit from being at least ten minutes shorter, and leaving us wanting more.
Move a Mountain Productions at Underground Theatre, 1312-1314 N. Wilton Place, Los Angeles. Closed. https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/1985
