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Local Guides
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Crazy and a Half
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by
Katie Penrose
Sept. 20 - 26, 2007 |
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Black Box Fire is a small theatre company with sharp sense and
great talent, if so much can be judged by the hilarious show I just
saw. The beloved Staircase Theatre is currently hosting Black Box
Fire’s most recent effort — a zany comedy called Crazy and a Half
that stacks six totally different visits to the psychiatrist’s office
into one topplingly funny show.
Four actors enjoyed the task of playing three characters
each; one patient and one doctor were featured in every act. The
play’s a bit out there and has the quality of a genuine heart, just
like most people I know. It peaked in its finale with a couple’s
therapy session that I am still laughing about two days later.
The actors were all very good and left me extremely
impressed. Jaclyn Scobie, who shone in the briefly serious
moments of her first role, and whose natural comedic ability is
akin to the very best I’ve seen, gave a strikingly well–rounded
laugh–out– loud performance. The play delicately balances
complex subject matter in a humourous framework, and Jaclyn
handles this duality most capably; she is a treasure in this play.
Equally pleasing was A.J. Haygarth, whose gestural comedy was of
such quality that he will likely land on a Stratford stage some day
(and steal the show). Not only does he have great timing and
instinct, he also really committed to fine–tuning and bringing
depth to characters that a lesser actor would have found it easy to
gloss over, since the script is so plainly funny.
Probably the best character in the play landed with Stephanie
Davidson, a co–founder of Black Box Fire, who made herself at
home in fishnets, bunny ears, and not much else to become the
wacky candy–gram who turns the tables on her unsuspecting
therapist (although this role is closely rivaled by A.J.’s
hemorrhoid–ridden aging rocker: hello leather pants!).
Stephanie’s talent is powerful, but her performance lacked the
diversity between characters that was so valuable for Jaclyn and
A.J. Fortunately she does what she knows extremely well. Young
buck Andrew Hadden rounds out this foursome, and although he
could learn much from his co–stars about totally submitting
himself to a role, he is very charming and funny in his own right,
and does a great job.
It was a really neat feature of this play to have the actors
changing roles, swapping scene partners, switching from doctor
to patient, and generally drawing out all of each other’s talents.
The pace was really nice as well, with a tiny break between each
act to have the stage re–arranged for the next scene. Kudos go
out to Stephanie Yantsis, a director who knew exactly what to do
with her script and actors, brought it to fruition, and effortlessly
worked in just the right amount of gags and tickles — all of them
pleasurable, and still resonating. Overall the play was smart,
touching and rather hysterical. And the elements all seemed to be
peaking, like a well-cooked Thanksgiving dinner and everything
is ready at the same time. Loved it. Go see this, it’s a scream.
V [KATIE PENROSE]
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