Gaetana Caldwell-Smith

The weekend beginning Friday, November 16 through Sunday the 18^th , the Fall Fringe of Marin presents its final weekend of two programs of new, original one act plays under the auspices of the Dominican University Players  in Meadowlands Hall on its San Rafael campus.

Program One plays on Saturday, November 17.   It opens with Shirley King’s Hollywood Confidential, directed by Robin Schild. It is a stylized spy spoof, complete with dark glasses and trench coats.   Set to a James Bond soundtrack, Gloria (Gigi Benson), and Duckman (Monty Paulson) enter, guns drawn.  The timing, especially in the opening choreography is spot on. Things get rocky when Duckman, believing he is a superhero out to save the day, reveals his outfit beneath his coat, dons headgear and flippers.  His partner is not amused.

Mysterious Ways , a solo performance, follows.  It was written by George Dykstra, who also plays a bereaved widower who cannot let his wife go.  He celebrates their anniversary the same way every year.  He speaks to her as though she’s in the other room, and goes into long expository remembrances of things past until, tragically, he realizes, again, she’s gone forever.  A phone call from his grown daughter brings him back to reality.  Dykstra gives a well-shaded, deep, but clichéd, insight into this common life passage.

A brief scene change and we are surprised to see a man locked in a bathroom, sitting on a toilet.  He watches through the glass pane and listens to his deluded wife in the next room rehearsing her TV meteorologist audition routine.  This is Martin A. David’s self-directed absurdist comedy, Minerva and Melrose.  Throughout the play,  Minerva (Lauren Arrow),  an adroit malapropist, spouts them constantly (“Pinochle” for “pinnicle”, etc.)  as she ponders her career options, deciding on this one then that, each time believing she will be a instant star.  Melrose , played by Jon Zax, exuding a kindof Harpo Marx vibe, encourages her, but utters snide comic asides as he fiddles with toilet paper.   She has an accident; Melrose unlocks himself from the bathroom, finally freeing himself from his indulgent, demanding wife.  Arrow, a beautiful, big woman who moves with grace, has been seen in several Fringe plays over the years.

Don Samson’s The Game, follows.  Directed by Carol Eggers, it features a young married couple.  Tom, played by Fringe favorite Rick Roitinger, with impeccable timing, and Marion (a believable Emily Soleil) have been invited by friends to join them at a Swingers party.   Tom seems willing to try it, do something different, but Emily hesitates.  They banter, argue, and speculate about it and its eventual outcome.    Emily turns the tables on him which changes Tom’s mind.

How Salt & Pepper Got Put into Shaker is a delightful, costumed, animated bit from playwright Annette Lust’s Pantry Tales series. Directed and choreographed by Pamela Rand the play is an informative piece, narrated by the French Cook (Charles Grant in a perfect French accent).   Originally, salt and pepper were served in small bowls with silver spoons.  But Salt (Terri Barker), in white, and Pepper (Cynthia Sims ), in black, argue and fight about which of them is the most important to enhance foods and please diners, scattering their grains all over the place, making a mess.  This upsets Cook, who decides, in order to avoid this, they must be put into separate shakers.  A nice touch was the court-jester-like jingly hats.

Writer and director, Michael Ferguson’s thoughtful, though didactic at times, Sharp Edges tells the story of a budding relationship between a subdued Melanie (Jennifer Cedar-Kraft ) and an insistent Daniel (David Louis Klein).  Though they seemed to have a lot in common, they’ve parted ways.  When they run into each other during an intermission at a symphony concert, they discuss their differences.   Daniel is honest about his sexual needs and how he sees women, while Melanie, who’s had a troubled life and suffered rape, wants understanding and companionship.

Program One ends with the fast-paced, funny, Sunday Sundays written and skillfully directed by Peter Hsieh, about a group of friends who play croquet together every Sunday.   But, this time, someone forgot to bring the balls.  The piece opens with the four Archie (Jason Hurtado), Nate (Michael Lee Lund), Wade (Everado Leon), and Krista (Elizabeth Curtis), frozen in various croquet playing positions, mallets raised at odd angles.  Angry over the missing balls, they begin to fight, advancing downstage swinging mallets, arguing and blaming, in Shakespearean English.  The scene is rewound, back to frozen statues, starting over.  This happens several times, each time the players advance and speak various dialects: Southern, then hyper-tragic drama.  The funniest were the robot and zombie croquet player zombies.  Excellent choreography.

Some Mime Troupe and Clown Conservatory regulars opened Program Two with the slap-stick, clown piece, Get a Date Show, written by Stacy Lapin & Pamela Rand, with the collaboration of Joan Mankin, and directed by Clown Conservatory founder Paoli Lacy.  Based on popular TV date shows of the ‘70s,- except that this one appears intended for single seniors-  it features an Emcee, Johnny J. Johnson (an acrobatic Ross Travis); contestants, Joan “The Champ” Longjump (Joan Mankin), Gladys Ruffelshire (Pamela Rand); and the lucky date Arthur  (Pickle Family Circus alum Randy Craig).  White-haired Arthur is wheelchair-bound, assisted by his comely attendant, Kay (Tristan Cunningham).  Background music is provided by the Ukulele Musician, Myron Seth Isaacs.  Contestant questions trended towards elder-sex, and contestants judged by physical prowess.  Who won a date with Arthur?  The play was enhanced with a slide show by Rachel Cohen.

Second on the program is On With the Wind in which seniors at a elder facility gather to watch a video of “Gone With the Wind” (the “G” on the cover was missing, hence the reference to “On-“).  It was written and directed by Carol Sheldon, with a lively cast: Loreen (Kathy Holly), Twyla (Roberta Maloy), Lawrence (Michael Collins), Beverly (Donna Andrews); and Floramae (Floralynn Isaacson), dressed as a character in the film.  As they watch, they  talk about the film, its characters, plot, and quote from it; they discuss each others’ outfits, past relationships, embarrassing issues of growing older, and elder sex.  However it never gets maudlin and is quite funny.   Twlya’s droll remarks keeps the repartee from getting smarmy and piteous.

Arrangements  by Clare J. Baker, directed by Gina Pandiani is a comedy about making after-death arrangements.  It takes place in the funeral director Mr. Ashley’s office (reliable Charles Grant).  He can’t decide if his saucy, exotic client,  Reddi Witherspoon, played by  spunky Terri Barker, is flirting with him or what.  She appears to be rolling in dough and wants to be cremated.  There are many allusions to ashes- including  his name- and puns throughout.

One Time at the Zoo, a lively romp, written & directed by William O. Chessman III with choreography by Susan Amacker, is the perfect apré-intermission play.  The Beasleys- Pamela (Susan Amacker), and Gerald ( Michael A. O’Brien),  and daughter Victoria (wonderful 7^th grade actor Melissa Schepers)- visit the zoo.   Victoria teases and taunts the chimp (Ken Sollazzo, thankfully not in a gorilla suit).   Mom and Dad try to give her a lesson in evolution; how close a relation chimps are to humans.  She isn’t listening.  When Dad gets too close to the cage, the chimp goes to work on him and somehow they change places.   Amacker’s choreography works to both Sollazzo’s and O’Brien’s advantage.  To see Dad’s melt-down from a staid, composed man is priceless.

G. Randy Kasten wrote and directed Supplementing, a drama dealing with infidelity.   Husband and wife actors Diane and David Rodrigues play married couple Mindy and Pete.  When Mindy keeps arriving home from work later and later each night, Pete has his suspicions.  Mindy is concerned with her looks, and aging, afraid she’s losing her attractiveness.  The short play is seen in several separate scenes.  In each, the actors wear different clothes to depict the passage of time.  And Pete is always on the couch drinking.   It is difficult to portray a drunk. Even tippler Richard Burton said he had to get sober before he could play one.  In the final scene, Pete delivers a believable drunken monologue to himself in the mirror.

Shaw, written and directed by Ollie Mae Trost Welch, has Shaw (Kevin Copps as G.B Shaw) walking haltingly with a cane, talking to himself about  God.  This is a well-known Shavian trope.  Shaw was an admitted and proud atheist.  However, after his death at 93, people specfulated about what he would say if he met God, and plays have been written about it.  In this one,  Shaw and God (played by Jerrund Bojeste) debate His existence and, where, exactly is Shaw now? Heaven?  Hell? Purgatory? Shaw asks God to prove his existence by making him (Shaw), the age he felt happiest.  It’s difficult for anyone to emulate G.B. Shaw, but Copps pulls it off, even with a slight Irish accent.  How does one play God? He could be anything, or anyone, even a she.  With his matter-of-fact delivery, Bojeste in his pony-tail, beard, embroidered vest, slacks, and loafers?  Sure he could be God.  Why not?

This thought-provoking play is followed by the hilarious mystery farce, The Trouble at Table 23, written by Charley Lerrigo and directed by Amy Crumpacker.   Bill (Manik Bahl) wants milk for his coffee.  He’s staying in a hotel, visits the dining room and asks the receptionist, known only as “Actor” played dead-pan by Jean Davis, who gives him trouble, but no milk; then a waitress, again played by Actor, this time in an ill-fitting wig, also gives him a hard time, but no milk.  She disappears.  A body turns up.   It’s discovered he’s a thief (John Ferreira).  Then, of course, a trench-coated detective, again played by Actor, who pins the murder on Bill.  Man!  All the dude wanted was milk for his coffee!  The audience laughed throughout at the absurdity of it all.  Poor Bill.

She Has a Plan, by George Freek, directed by Jim Colgan, ends Program Two.  A married couple played by Ayelette Robinson as Martina Hoople, and George Doerr as Henry Hoople, visit a marriage counselor, Ms. Pennyworth (Cynthia Sims).   Martina wants Henry, who really appears to be a weak, ineffectual man- much credit to Doerr’s acting- to be more manly, stand up for himself, and not be such a wimp.   Marina and Pennyworth have devised a plan, unknown to Henry, which involves Bert, Martina’s big, beefy ex-,  perfectly rendered by Simon Patton.

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Dreama Walker as Becky being questioned by Sandra and Marti.

COMPLIANCE,   film based on true events, written and directed by Craig Sobel, starring Ann Dowd, Dreama Walker, Philip Ettinger, and Pat Healy.

                                                             UNSPEAKABLE ACTS

                                                            By Gaetana Caldwell-Smith 

The shocking, cringe-worthy film, “Compliance,” has the look of a cinema verité documentary.  It takes place during winter in a small-town strip-mall fast-food restaurant with problems of spoiled food due to employee negligence and an illness related short-staff.  Sandra (Ann Dowd), the manager, a stressed-out, heavy-set, middle-age woman, gets a phone call from a man saying that he’s Police Officer Daniels (Pat Healy) who unfortunately can’t take the time to go out there in person because he’s very busy.  He tells her that one of her customer’s complained that an employee, Becky (Dreama Walker), stole money out of her purse an hour ago; she’s with Daniels now along with Sandra’s boss, the franchise owner.  The mostly young staff is on edge as it is; Sandra has warned them that a company “secret shopper” is coming in to rate the place.

When Daniels asks Sandra to take Becky into the break room and search her purse, you know something is not kosher.  From merely rummaging through her purse, the search escalates incrementally, orchestrated by Daniels as the rest of the oblivious staff out front continues serving the steady stream of hungry customers.  He cows and intimidates Sandra, flatters her so that she’ll do anything he asks.  A foreshadowing scene occurs early in the film between Sandra and Becky so that when she takes his side, even referring to Becky as a thief, it rings true.  The cook, Kevin (Philip Ettinger) and a grizzled supplier (Matt Servitto) are the only ones who aren’t fooled.  Sensing things are not right, they make phone calls.

The fact that the entire film is based on telephone dialogue neither constricts nor undermines the suspense and pace.  Plus, the camera breaks it up with shots of customers chowing down in booths; rusted, greasy equipment, dirty dishwater, piles of discarded cartons and wrappers (Chef Ramsey would be appalled), and a parking lot rimmed with melting snow-drifts.  Soon scene will segue to a bland-looking, early fortyish man in sweater and slacks, sitting in front of a littered desk, or making a sandwich, with a phone to his ear.

Daniels threatens Becky with jail-time and fabricates drug deals, implicating her.  Confused, she denies everything, protests his demands, and insists that she’s innocent. He tells her frequently to calm down and insists that she address him as “sir” or “officer.”  He ensures that there is only one person at a time in the room with her. Becky, who now sits naked, covered only by an apron, ends up allowing Sandra, her assistant, Marti (Ashley Atkinson), as well as Sandra’s balding, sheepish, beer-drinking fiancé, Van (Bill Camp), to carry out Daniels’ phone directed, step-by step searches tantamount to those perpetrated on prisoners suspected of concealing contraband in bodily orifices.  Daniels rewards Van for conducting the most egregious search with a sex act by Becky. 

            You ask yourself why Sandra and the others allowed this to happen.  People are conditioned through religion, education, and government to obey the law and not to question authority.  The man spoke convincingly, repeatedly stating that he was an officer of the law, asking, “Don’t you want to do the right thing?” “Help me out here,” and “The sooner you do this, the sooner it’ll all be over,” interspersed with threats.  Also, he had done his homework on these people, knew their weaknesses and used the information to his advantage.

 Can we use the message of the film to explain how tyrannical, imperialistic governments gain control of its citizens?  How 100s of thousands of people are coerced into leaving their homes and boarding freight cars that will take them to their deaths?  How millions of innocent people are driven from their lands, herded into reservations, or concentration camps as were Japanese citizens in California?  Can it explain the exploitation of women?  Minorities?  The undocumented, and so on? 

Though this cringe-inducing film takes place in the restaurant, mostly in the back room, it is not claustrophobic.  The acting feels natural, you sense that these are real, hardworking people asked to carry out unspeakable acts on an innocent person.

THE DICTATOR, directed by Larry Charles, starring Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, and Ben Kingsley.

“The Dictator” is outrageously over the top hilarious; Sacha Baron Cohen’s character, the heavily bearded Admiral General Aladeen, in a militaristic, be-ribboned white suit and cap, is the dictator of the fictional oil-rich country of Wadiya.  In a speech about democracy vs a dictatorship, he riles up the crowd by asking if they want to live in a country that spies on its citizens, arrests them without charge, and imprisons them indefinitely; and also assassinates its citizens who happen to be friends or relatives of suspected terrorists who are in another country at the time.  Hopefully, the audience gets that Aladeen is talking about America, espousing truths that no mainstream media would dare touch.  The self-important major TV newscasts anchors reporting on Aladeen’s every move are portrayed as a bunch of well-groomed, clueless nitwits.
Aladeen’s handlers hire an imposter because Aladeen has decapitated so many detractors that Wadiyans want him killed.  On the lam, Aladeen ends up in New York dressed in the rags of a homeless person; he runs into fellow countryman Nadal (Jason Mantzoukas), whom he thought he’d ordered be-headed.  Nadal now owns a restaurant called Death to Aladeen. He then gets involved with an organic foods co-op run by Zoey (a gamin Anna Faris), who outfits the 6 ft 4 Cohen in a Take Back the Night T-shirt and baggy, baby-blue, thigh-length shorts.  Without even trying, Zoey innocently and naively effects a major change in him.
The film touches on the US dealing with the Wadiyan nuclear enrichment program; the push for an Arab Spring democracy in dictatorships.  Cohen leaves no sensitive issue unscathed such as female infanticide, women’s rights (women, generally), police brutality, racism- Blacks, Jews, Asians, and more.  Still you will not hear an anti-Muslim peep.  There’s some bathroom and high-school jock humor throughout, but the concept is like a Michael Moore documentary only totally fictionalized with bizarre characters, dialogue and scenes.  Ben Kingsley plays Tamir, Aladeen’s right hand man who plots to overthrow him.  He is a dead-ringer for Hamid Karzai, complete with hat and cape, and the only character who plays it absolutely straight.  The audience in the theatre was mostly women and we all laughed out loud throughout.

Director Bradley Parker shot “Chernobyl Diaries” in the manner of the popular scare-fest “The Blair Witch Project” using hand held cameras and like that film, the characters film themselves.   Three young people are in the Ukraine visiting a friend’s brother, Paul (Jonathan Sadowski) who now lives there.  Screen writers Shane and Cary Van Dyke, round out the characters by touching on their relationships, such as Paul’s sibling rivalry with younger brother, Chris (Jesse McCartney, who looks like a young Leonardo diCaprio), and Chris’s love interest, Natalie (Olivia Dudley).  The dialogue shows them to be sophisticated, mature people in that no one says “like” or “anyways.”
Paul bullies the others into joining him and another couple on an extreme tour run by Uri (Dimitri Diatchenko) a blocky, shaven-headed, alien-from-another-planet-like dude.  Their destination?  Chernobyl- site of the worst nuclear disaster until last year’s catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in Japan that damaged its Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear reactor, laying waste everything for miles.
The premise of “Chernobyl” is that Russia is keeping secrets of what became of people who didn’t, or couldn’t, evacuate the Ukrainian town of Prypiat, two miles distant from Chernobyl, by order of the Soviet Union.  Everyone was given only five minutes to pack up and leave.  A fleet of buses was conscripted to take the inhabitants to safety, after the nuclear meltdown twenty five years ago.   The film hints that the old, the sick, the invalids, and the infirm who couldn’t leave are imprisoned there to slowly die of radiation poisoning; the healthier ones are not allowed to leave lest they tell others about what’s really going on.  We see this as a possibility in the fate suffered by Amanda (Devin Kelly) as the last survivor.
Billed in the horror genre, first-time director Bradley Parker ‘s “Chernobyl Diaries” will disappoint horror movie fans.  It is slow moving except when characters run through labyrinthine passageways trying to escape things that go bump in the night or flee ravenous beasts; and it is bereft of creepy, supernatural, ghoulish monsters.  Though glimpses of small, bald, or hooded figures are seen in windows or creeping ominously and intently after the tourists making their way around in the dark.
In Uri’s beat up military van, they approach Prypiat once inhabited by hundreds of families whose adult members once worked at the Chernobyl nuclear facility.  They are stopped at the gate by a guard who tells them that the facility is closed due to maintenance.   But of course, Uri knows a secret way in.  They take pictures of the area that once boasted tree-shaded gardens and a playground with a Ferris wheel and other rides, now eerily still and rusted.  Everything is desiccated; and the old concrete Soviet era blockhouse, hi-rise apartments (like Cabrini-Green) are strewn with rubble and rusted metal.
Led by a confidant Uri, they wend their way in the half-light through apartments still furnished with overturned tables and chairs, a school with dust-covered desks and papers strewn around, a hospital ward with rusted iron beds, and here and there lay creepy, tattered, soiled ,eyeless doll, and weird-looking labs featuring weird-looking machines covered with dust and debris.  They hear noises.  Uri assures them not to worry, nothing can live here.   The setting is haunting.   Then something happens to belie Uri’s assurance.  They realize they should not have come, so pile into Uri’s van.  Night is falling.  Predictably the vehicle breaks down; things go from bad to really, horribly bad until there is just one of the six tourists left, then none.  One inconsistency is that the tourists start out exploring Prypiat on foot, yet appear to end up in the damaged reactor itself, two miles away.
I believe Parker’s “Chernobyl Diaries” is timely and important; but it got bad reviews.  People wanted more horror.  What can be more horrifying than a domestic nuclear plant explosion and meltdown which kills people, contaminates and lays waste land for hundreds of miles and for hundreds if not thousands of years?   This could be the future for Okuma, Futaba, and other towns which lie within a fifty mile radius of the 2011 Fukushima disaster.  Most of the footage for “Chernobyl”was shot in Prypiat.   I recommend seeing the Greenpeace and BBC videos of the history of Chernobyl and Prypiat- then and now- on You Tube. Also, tours to Prypiat are as routinely conducted today as there are to the ghost-haunted remains of the prison of Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay.