Shitty Awful Everything

Reviewed by Lovell Estell III
Complex Theatres (OMR Theatre)
Through June 23

Well, as the saying goes, shit happens. And in Kevin Swanstrom’s lunatic comedy about “life, death and everything in between,” the stuff hits like a category five cyclone. Mike (Robert Walters), an everyday sort with a dull job, is trapped in a dutiful, loveless marriage. At the beginning of the play he’s informed by his doctor (Paul LeSchofs) that his body is riddled with cancer, his time is limited, and that he should “get his dick wet.” The otherwise bad news inspires Mike to just say ‘fuck it’ and let go. He then is unceremoniously fired from his job, after which his wife takes off with her pair of lovers, and he is kidnapped by the gay porn industry cowboys and forced into various depraved acts of man-love, all the while tanking up on cocaine. But the worst is yet to come, and that includes a shootout with some drug dealers, a mauling by a bear, and a bizarre encounter with a racist biker gang. Swanstrom and director Kyle Cooper toss around so much shit into this show that most of it sticks for righteous laughs. Nice work by the cast. Warning: there is lots of blood spilled and some of it can hit you in the face. Bring a poncho or wear your grubbies!

OMR Theater at the Complex Theatres, 6476 Santa Monica Blvd., Hlywd. www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/3545.  Running time: 70 minutes