Ron’s review – a shaky suspension leads to a Tarantino-esque odyssey | Theater

WSeeing a comedian fall off the stage is hell. In Ted Walliker’s new play, the actor’s destruction is deliberate but his theatrical ambitions miss the mark. Being a stand-up comedy that runs wild, this first attraction from Riverside Studios’ co-production is a one-man show.

The problem begins with how quickly the creative tool is pushed aside. When shy young comedian Tony (Walliker) can’t get the laughs he wants, he tries his hardest and starts a violent affair with Mike, his best friend, longtime crush and scorned. A shy persona creeps into Tony’s demeanor as he recounts a terrible night of disfigured faces and broken bones. From a mistake in McDonald’s where we meet a familiar character, we are thrown into a very different drama, with an occasional address to us “the people” to remind us that this is supposed to be a comedy.

Into this second scene we jump: a slapdash, Tarantino-esque odyssey told in a haphazard manner and lack of consequence. The light-hearted story intersperses robbery, gangs and cannibals, with nods to romantic romance as Tony avoids telling us what’s gone wrong. We’re supposed to know they’re rocking, and Walliker’s costume changes are designed to make us feel silly. But nothing can encourage us to get to the root of our narrator’s confusion. We don’t know the person very well.

There are big, bold shows here. The most interesting thing comes with over-representing the group, depending on the story that has been around Tony, or falling far short of what he is saying. Walliker has given himself a great job in writing, acting and directing the play (with Lev Govorovski, who also designed the costumes and costumes), as well as lighting and sound. He is a proven performer, capturing a stand-up song well and capturing the story itself. But the show would benefit from letting us hear what Tony is running, instead of just watching him run.