Belly laughs at 'Laughing Wild'

It's hard to imagine anyone who would not find something amusing in 'Laughing Wild'

October 27, 2004

By KATIE WATTS
ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

Musical groups these days try to carve out a verbal niche for themselves: funk-country-new age; rock-jazz-gospel; classical-swing-hip hop. Audiences of "Laughing Wild," playing at the Cinnabar Theater through Nov. 13, are going to have the same problem. It's impossible to come up with a neat way to package this play. But it's very possible to have a good time at this production: the large house opening night laughed loudly and continuously.

The two-person "Laughing Wild" is part stand-up comedy, part satire, part talk show. There's enough plot to get by, and a lot of social commentary. And you may never feel the same way about a can of tuna, or being in a supermarket, again.

Amazing as it sounds, the first act is back-to-back 45-minute monologues that begin with an encounter in the tuna aisle. In Act Two, the characters interact more, first in side-by-side paralleling monologues, then face-to-face.

In Act One, the characters describe their encounter. He's standing in front of the tuna, convinced she's mentally round the bend, hoping if he makes himself small and insignificant, she'll go away. She's behind him, annoyed at this irritating guy who keeps standing in front of the tuna and won't go away. Eventually she bursts into tears and conks him over the head with a can of Chicken of the Sea. But from there, each monologue heads off in random directions.

"Laughing Wild" is a glorious acting tour de force for John Craven and Laura Jorgensen. Body language, facial expressions, the dramatic use of eyes, Jorgensen's uninhibited cackle, all contribute to these carefully drawn parts. There's a rare pleasure in watching good actors. I was so comfortable with these two, knowing I was in skillful hands, that by the end of the first act they could have read the phone book and I would have enjoyed it.

Director Elizabeth Craven has a sure touch. This is a seamless blend of director, actors and play. I especially enjoyed that Elizabeth Craven isn't afraid of silence. Usually when there's silence on stage, it's uncomfortable and you can almost hear the audience thinking, "someone's forgotten their lines." So it's refreshing and wonderful to see her use silence as effectively as dialogue.

Aloysha Klebe's spare set keeps the audience's focus on these performances: he doesn't distract your eyes with on-stage clutter. A new-age banner, a suggested supermarket aisle, a talk show set-up let the performances take center stage.

I suppose you're wondering what this play is about, and that's as hard to describe as what type of play this is. You know those random, stream-of-consciousness thoughts you have when you're driving, or waiting in line, or talking with someone, the ones that just drift through your brain? Sometimes they're cultural observations, sometimes they can be meaner, when you think to yourself, "Does this guy realize what a big bore he is?" or "Hee hee, she's got spinach stuck in her teeth and I'm not going to tell her."

Playwright Christopher Durang seemingly has a lot of these thoughts and universal feelings. He's been shopping in the tuna aisle: he's dealt with people who are two tacos short of a combo plate. He's corralled his conclusions together here and you find yourself agreeing with him over and over again: observations on religion, grocery shopping, the homeless, driving, movies, street musicians, mental illness, talk show hosts, homosexuality, the government, AIDS.

These don't necessarily sound like topics for a comedy, but this is a funny show. I can almost guarantee at least one outright belly laugh. The title comes from a quote by playwright Samuel Beckett, "Laughing wild, amid severest woe."

"Do you identify with me in some way?" Jorgensen's character asks early in the first act. I'm willing to bet everyone in the opening night audience wanted to holler "yes!"

In Cinnabar's last production, "Cabaret," the audience of the play was also the audience at the Kit Kat Klub. It's a similar situation here: both characters are aware of the audience as an audience: talking to us, relating to us. There's even a little bit of audience participation, although you won't have to join hands with your neighbors and sing "Kumbayah."

"How are you going to write about this play?" said my date Friday night.

"I don't know," I said.

"Why don't you just tell them it's good: go see it."

So I think that's what it boils down to. It's good. Go see it.

(Contact Katie Watts at kwatts@arguscourier.com)

LAUGHING WILD

What: Christopher Durang's satire on the perils of modern life in urban America. Directed by Beth Craven. Featuring John Craven and Laura Jorgensen.

Where: Cinnabar Theater, 3333 Petaluma Blvd. North

When: Oct. 28-30, Nov. 4-6, 12-13 at 8 p.m.; Nov. 7 at 2 p.m.

Tuna Thursdays: Oct. 28 and Nov. 4. Take a can of tuna for the food bank and pay what you can.

Halloween party: Come in costume on Oct. 30, compete for Scariest Laugh or Best Costume, with trick or treat bags for all.

Cost: $20 general, $10 seniors and students

Reservations: Call 763-8920 weekdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.