High
Dramma Sketch Commedy: Live in 3-D! is a completely original show written by a creative team
of nine writers who also perform the material. As you enter the small store
front space that makes up Walking Fish Theatre you are immediately handed 3-D
glasses to go with your program. The evening starts off slowly as the cast
brings out signs that read 3-D. They then proceed to undulate them back and
forth to simulate a "3-D experience" for the audience. (Aren't they
already in 3-D because they're not a movie? Guess that was the joke.) However,
as the show unfolds, the skits, some short, some long get funnier and funnier.
The best thing about this comedy troupe it that the sketches were equally
divided between the male and female members of the cast. This is not always the
case in comedy groups. According to Actor/Writer Jen Jaynes, "We tried very hard to
make sure that the women got as much stage time as the men." And it
showed, as there was a good balance between the sexes. Many times edgy comedy
is a little too much "testosterone" laden.
There
was a sketch about an undiscovered ukulele player who goes from becoming a Pop
star to an ODing rock star; a sketch to the tune of "It's Raining
Men" with all the male actors coming out into the audience dressed as
Chippendale's displaying varying degrees of paunches and man boobs and lesbian
love on Valentine's day that gets interrupted by a Pee Wee Herman type
character. But my favorite sketch involved a callback for "West Side
Story". Here, an actress and an actor have been called back for the roles
of Tony and Maria. But as the audition proceeds we realize that Steve played byTodd
Shaeffer does
not want to be considered for Tony, but for Maria. They then proceed to have a
sing off, with of course, "I Feel Pretty". Jen Jaynes does an
admirable job as the female auditionee Sage, but of course the director picks
Steve with his teeny-weeny hip hugger jean shorts slung down below his belly
button and his sibilant S's on the end of every word. I don't know who was more
of a screamer, Steve or the audience.
As
segues between sketches, musician Chad Murla plays acoustic guitar and
recites the lyrics to a myriad of hard core rap songs. The effect is
consistently funny given the grotesque lyrics juxtaposed against the quiet
strains of the guitar. The level of acting within the troupe varies with stand
out performances by Sean Close (Guest Writer/Guest Actor) Todd Shaeffer, Jen Jaynes,
Kelly McCaughan, Jackie Wolfson and Jason Singer. Most of the evening was directed by Johnny
Smith, Artistic
Director and Group Founder. Mr. Smith is usually one of the performers, but he
is currently a part of the cast of "Amadeus" at the Walnut and was
not available for performances this time around. The troupe does a brand new
show every other month, using the month in between to develop and rehearse new
material. Next month's show is entitled, "Biever Fever" Tickets are $15 with one
performance being a Pay What you Roll (on the dice). For tickets call the box
office at 215-427-9255 or log onto Walking Fish Theatre's website at
www.walkingfishtheatre.com