Pictured: Paul Rodriques and Chris Struett
Oh, you Devils!
LEE HARTGRAVE REVIEWS
*Lee Hartgrave beyondchron.org staff writer
GIANT BONES – “STUNNING”
POP! POW! WOW!
GIANT BONES “BLEW ME AWAY”
Queens, Kings and all those things unfold like a mystery. Secrets are everywhere from the moment the play opens with a big giant that caresses a young man’s body. It’s like the “Wizard” in the Wizard of Oz. We only see hands behind a moon faced lit face with those comforting arms. What is the wisdom that this astonishing creature is passing out? Ah, but you can’t have everything just yet. There is more to this play within a play than even a Wizard can tell you all at once.
But, you will enjoy this meticulous and driving account about a Queen and King. Like a big windup clock that stops and starts you go down remarkable gripping and searing pathways. Who can a Queen trust? This is a question that you will try to figure out. But in this splendid specimen of the genre you will be led eagerly along this sly satire of celebrity, consumerism and High class and Lower class.
O.K before you get all wrapped up in tinsel – I will try to tell you the story. It’s about an acting troupe that travels from town to town to entertain. There is an evil Queen who wants the powers of the towns major Wizard. He agrees to teach her how to do a few tricks – but he forgot to mention that he has a sneaky way of giving her a reverse trick.
Later a King is looking for a consort. He gets one, but she is not exactly what he thought she was, even though her appearance strikes the King as a Godsend. They start negotiating details.
There are several stories/playlets told by a roaming troupe of actors. Ten Actors become many different characters that range from good guys to bad guys, magic and even a talking fish. It’s a pretty long play, especially the last act where they talk about making changes to the play. Maybe a little editing would help move it along. But that is a minor complaint. The cast of ten is astonishing. They are superbly absurd and watching them is a special pleasure. They are a blast of energy.
This World Premiere is based on the stories of Author - Peter S. Beagle.
THE STARRING ACTORS ARE: MIKKA BONE, SARA EVE BREINDEL, KATRINA BUSHNESS, WARDEN LAWLOR, RICK LOPES, KAI MORRISON, PAUL RODRIQUES, JESSICA RUDHOLM, JAY SMITH AND CHRIS STRUETT. Hey, how about putting their paw prints on the sidewalk outside the Exit? They deserve it!
THE OUTRAGEOUS AND FUNNY DIRECTOR IS STUART BOUSEL.
AT THE EXIT THEATRE THROUGH JUNE 19, 2010.
RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest rating) – trademarked-
http://www.giantbonesplay.com./
(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed many articles to the San Francisco Chronicle Sunday Datebook section and produced a long-running Arts Segment on PBS KQED)))
