Cast: Alan Coyne (Dexter – red cap), Kai Morrison (Major Topple d’Acropolis), Matt Gunnison (Haplus – blue cap), Jef Valentine (Hospitalides – old man), Eden Neuendorf (Convivia – ingénue), Darek Burkowski (Nautikles – bow tie, skipper outfit), Catherine Leudtke (Climax – dominatrix costume).
The Braggart Soldier or Major Blowhard by Plautus. Adapted and directed by Evren Odcikin translated by Deena Berg. Custom Made Theatre Company, Gough Street Playhouse, 1620 Gough at Bush, San Francisco. (415) 798-CMTC (2682) or www.custommade.org.
The Braggart Soldier is a winning rollicking/ribald /romp at Custom Made [rating:4]
The more the world changes the more it remains the same is an aphorism associated with personal, impersonal and interpersonal behavior even though the world is being torn apart by war. Is that what multitalented local theatre icon Evren Odcikin is telling audiences in his staging of the 2200 year old Roman play, The Braggart Soldier, by Titus Maccius Plautus?
Be assured there is no need to engage in intellectual banter after seeing/enjoying Custom Made’s latest mounting at the Gough Street Playhouse. The decision to bring in an Odcikin production was a brilliant move. It truly displays Odcikin at his best and in all respects. He has adapted Deena Berg’s translation, directed the play and designed the set.
The acting is appropriately and extremely broad. It is great comedia dell’ arte tomfoolery with costumes (Keiko Shimosato Carreiro) to match. The age old conflict between master and servant opens the show with Dexter (Alan Coyne) servant to Nutikles (Darek Burkowski) engaging in banter with braggart Major Toppole d’Acopolis (Kia Morrison) in order to gain his trust. It seems the Blowhard has stolen Convivia (Eden Neuendorf) lover of Nautikles and Dexter is brewing up a plot to return her to Nautikles.
Do not concern yourself with the relationships since Dexter who is on stage for most of the 95 minute play without intermission explains and introduces all the characters to the audience. When there is one character missing he inveigles a member of the audience to take the part. There are other forays into audience participation that are hilarious.
Deception is the key word in the plot with two houses separated by a backyard garden with Convivia struggling between the Blowhard’s house and the house of lecherous Hospitalides (Jef Valentine) where the lovers have secret trysts. Alas Blowhard’s servant Haplus (Matt Gunnison) has chased a monkey across the roof of Hospitalides’ house and (horrors) observed the lovers engaged passionate embraces nee sex?
It’s a puzzlement (apologies to The King and I since the play is more like A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) to Haplus. Dexter must now create an identical twin sister of Convivia. Here the plot thickens and the final character, a dominatrix, named Climax (Catherine Luedtke) is brought into the plot.
Enough about the plot. It is the staging; acting, costumes and directing that create a winning evening. Limber-limbed Alan Coyne contorts his body and face adding depth to his straight and double entendre lines keeping pace with Odcikin’s fluid direction. Matt Gunnison in his brief stints upon the stage as Haplus matches Coyne in physicality and almost becomes the audience favorite.
Eden Neuendorf and Darek Burkowski as the star crossed lovers somewhat underplay their roles but do gain audience approbation. Jef Valentine as Hospitalides has to overcome the hilarious cod piece attached to glorious costume. And finally, if you are into S & M, you surely should hire Climax given a scene stealing performance by Catherine Luedtke. Kai Morrison’s performance as the Blowhard is so good that you may say he deserves the beating he gets.
Before the lights go out to end the play Dexter asks Haplus what he thinks is the moral to the story. With “puzzlement” on his face, Haplus responds: “Never chase a monkey across the roof!”
CAST: Dexter, Alan Coyne; Major Topple d’Acropolis, Kai Morrison; Haplus, Matt Gunnison; Hospitalides, Jef Valentine; Convivia, Eden Neuendorf; Nautikles, Darek Burkowski; Climax, Catherine Luedtke*
CREATIVE TEAM: Director/Scenic Design, Evren Odcikin; Stage Manager, Grisel Torres; Costume Design, Keiko Shimosato Carreiro; Lighting Design, William Campbell; Sound Design, Liz Ryder; Properties Design, Cat Howser; Scenic Painter, Nicola McCarthy; Technical Director, Stewart Lyle.
Kedar K. Adour, MD
Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com
