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Theatre Review: ‘Drop Dead’ at The Empty Space
Topics: Drop Dead, the empty space, Bakersfield, Bakotopia, Theatre Review, theater
Posted by Bakontributor Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:59:37 PST
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0 responses 2 comments Location: 706 Oak St., Bakersfield, CA 93304

Theatre Review:
‘Drop Dead’ at The Empty Space
Actors do their best to save comedy from killing audience. Final shows 2/22-23, 2008!




By Greg Goodsell, Bakotopia.com Contributor

“Drop Dead,” the latest two-act Comedy-Murder Mystery-Farce at the Empty Space Theatre, takes place on both the final dress rehearsal and the opening night in a “crappy very-off Broadway theatre, NYC.”

The production is full of highly recognizable people. There’s the exceedingly fey director Victor Le Pewe (Ron Warren), whose mind is never far from the simpering affections of leather-clad stage manager Phillip (Andrew Ansolabehere); producer Sol Wisenheimer (Jason Monroe), forever barking orders in a Teutonic accent; Mona Monet (Cheryl Smith-Ellis), the faded TV star who expects the audience to rise and shower her with applause in spite of her dwindling fame; tarty Candy Apples (Amy Hall) whose association with the play is just a step above her shot-on-video projects with a Roman numeral after their titles; the self-important Brent Reynolds (Lorenzo Salazar); Chaz Looney (Jarrod Ackerley), a young, inept ham; elderly stage star Constance Crawford (Barbara Gagnon) who appears to be in the final stages of dementia; and Dick Shalit, critic Gene Shalit’s brother (Ryan Watts in an incredible simulation) are all recruited to the cast to ensure positive reviews.



To describe the production as troubled would be an understatement. Ostensibly a crowd-pleasing murder mystery, the play can barely contain its true origins as a Samuel Beckett-type “think piece.” Actor Brent Reynolds will occasionally stop the play’s action to give allusions to “the snow … the windswept snow.” There is the expected clash of personalities, tensions rise and the play’s onstage murders eventually lead to actual ones.

Written by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore, “Drop Dead” is full of exceedingly familiar elements. The premise of a ragtag theatre production disintegrating before the audience’s eyes has been done many times before, “Noises Off” being the foremost example. Director Victor Le Pewe in particular has picked up a few fashion hints from Christopher Guest’s Corky St. Claire from Waiting for Guffman, yet another knockabout comedy about a failed theatrical production.

It’s a very delicate proposition to have very talented actors to “act badly,” and seasoned director Bob Kempf walks the tightrope very well. Sensing that cast must juggle between their poorly written stage parts and their underlying characters, the actors play up key bits of characterization. Amy Hall snaps her gum with unbridled vulgarity while trying to maintain an Eliza Doolittle accent. Jarrod Ackerley changes his British butler accent in midstream to a French one, winding up with a very bad impersonation of Maurice Chevalier. Ackerley also proves himself to be a very adept physical comedian as he bounds all over the tiny stage at the play's shock conclusion. Honors for “Drop Dead's” best good/bad acting has to go to Ryan Watts. Standing stock still, and speaking with a severe speech impediment, Watts is hysterically funny in a hazy approximation of the “Today Show” critic with his bushy moustache and nerd specs.

The production is best summed up in a quote from Sir Donald Wolfit listed in the program “Dying is easy; comedy is hard.”

“Drop Dead” is a crowd pleasing comedy suitable for all ages.


**Final performances for “Drop Dead” are Friday and Saturday night, Feb. 22 and 23, at 8 p.m.
-The Empty Space Theatre is located at 706 Oak St. next to 
  Pizzaville.
-Admission is free, although a donation of $10 for adults and $5 for
  children and students is requested.

READ ANOTHER REVIEW BY BAKOTOPIA'S OWN JENRAVEN!
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Originally printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 22, 2-21-08

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Comment From: SamG

Thanks for the write-up, Greg! Comment From: Vindictivefilmscom

seen it, laughed hard and enjoyed myself. Great write up Greg