The Secret World of Archy and Mehitabel
Reviewed by Socks Whitmore
Whitefire Theatre
Thru October 15
RECOMMENDED
Not every theatergoer may consider themselves a fan of comic strips from the early 20th century, but first-time playwright Dan Gilvezan has set out to change that. The Secret World of Archy and Mehitabel is a new play based on the writings and characters of American humorist Don Marquis, following the exchanges between a human known as “Boss” and a sentient cockroach (reincarnated from a human) named Archy who leaves messages for Boss on his typewriter. A select anthology is brought to the stage by Gilvezan and a small band of talented actors with A-list level credits in the worlds of voice over and on-camera acting — film and TV buffs may be surprised to find the voices of Bumblebee (Transformers), Zim (Invader Zim), Will Vandom (W.I.T.C.H.), Gardenia (.hack) and the Doorman (Curious George) sharing the spotlight live and in-person. It’s certainly not every day that such a menagerie finds it way to the theater, but the collective crew makes the switch from film to stage with ease.
One advantage of using pro voice actors on stage is that they know how to create distinct, bold characters with the slightest shifts in timbre and stance, and this casting choice truly makes the show. Carolyn Hennesy as Mehitabel combines goofy feline mannerisms with over-the-top Broadway sensibilities, and Richard Horvitz and Kelly Stables absolutely shine in each of their roles; their vast repertoire of accents and mannerisms ensure that the numerous characters they play are unique and memorable. The costumes are simple but clean, using only one or two pieces for each quick change to transform them from one critter into the next. The set and lighting choices, too, are simple, creating a stripped-down environment that keeps the audience focused on the performers themselves. The most ornamental feature of the show might be the use of a live accompanist to provide piano underscore throughout, but it’s just the right amount of flavor to give a joke extra punch or a somber moment extra weight. The narrative is rich with both silly moments and sincere ones, mixed with philosophical messages that sit politely at the table for you to receive them (a refreshing contrast to the common pitfall of “family-friendly” shows, spoon-feeding the theme to their audiences). It’s also a pleasant surprise to find that the age of the source material does not show, even featuring timely messages around subjects such as climate change.
The structure of the narrative is fairly formulaic: philosophical monologue, short funny scene, rinse and repeat. The humor is authentic and grabbing, and the deeper thoughts never trite, but sometimes the stretches of narration run the risk of losing less attentive audience members without greater stimulation in such a minimalist environment. There are also little signs of the novice hand holding the pen, such as the clunky repetition of words/phrases in consecutive lines. Though workshopped at length, there might still be a kink or two in the script; long-form character growth loses clarity without a clear sense of the time elapsed, the subplot surrounding the off-stage wife of the Boss needs more stage time, and the use of a dancing silhouette displayed via projector is no substitute for having a live performer in front of you. However, these criticisms are ultimately nitpicky notes, and this critic expects viewers will not find it taking away from their enjoyment of the show as a whole.
The Secret World of Archy and Mehitabel will welcome your young ones of ages 10 and up, and offer some jokes for the big kids, too. Audience members should be aware of content warnings for brief visuals of insects and spiders as well as brief discussion of suicide. And who knows? You might find yourself lingering in the secret world long after the curtain has fallen.
Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks; Saturdays, 8:00 pm; Sep. 17, 3:00 pm. https://whitefiretheatre.com Running time: 90 minutes
