The Sophisticated Rogue
Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre
Once again Zombie Joe confirms that it has its roots firmly planted in the theatre of the absurd - the horrific - the experimental - and in the process of exploring all these, brings a unique experience to its following.
You can't really talk about Zombie Joe's without mentioning Josh T. Ryan, an absolute genius in progress, who can create any character, any scenario, any situation with a mere twist of the face, a flip of the eyebrow or a turn of the mouth, and as The Sophisticated Rogue brings alive a character that deals with total madness with the aplomb of an insurance broker quoting actuary figures.
"How many five-year olds can I beat up?" is the opening premise, which Ryan quickly and logically expands to discuss the relative difference in his size and that of five-year olds - the strength factor and the intellect, the force of his kicks contrasted to those of a five-year old, finally settling on an average number of 185 five-year olds he can overpower. By the time Ryan finishes, you are convinced he can do it, though not sure why anyone would want to. The Rogue has some definite ideas about his existence, his direction and his motivations which he openly discusses with the writer who created him.
Author /Director William Norrett, who wrote this expository discourse is probably equally off-center, following up the Rogue with Bill, a zany writer who created the Sophisticated Rogue and now has trouble keeping the character under control. Michael Blomgren, who was a powerhouse in Zombie's previous Dostoevsky, once again teams up with Ryan as his nemesis, and the two create a world more askew than a house of mirrors.
There's more. Bill meets the lovely Delia (Candida Rodriguez) who introduces herself as an agent for characters who have been in books, plays and films, and is attempting to extend the existence of some of the more famous protagonists by placing them in other projects. The scary thing is that the players are so sincere, you almost begin to believe this is a good idea!
As Delia mentions that she would love to land Harry Potter as a client, because that would be a fantastic representation, she also sets up a set of rules that Bill can and cannot have his characters perform. In the process, she signs up The Rouge, who now filled with a sense of power, threatens to walk away from Bill's story.
Sprinkled with vignettes of Bill's experiences with other women, notably his shrink (Denise Devin), and previous girl-friends, the surrealistic encounters explain Bill's evolution to create the Sophisticated Rogue, while the rest of the characters give an insight into Bills thought process.
The small space, which Zombie reconfigures with each new show, sports a wall full of modern art pieces and an imposing mural of a pink and white tree on a black background. Within a space that's almost eight feet wide and about twenty feet long, the actors are almost completely surrounded by the audience on two sides as they build a world populated by fringe people behaving in what they believe to be a normal way.
Josh Ryan infuses the Rogue with an almost Chaplinesque romance, with demure aristocracy, a twirling cane and an intellectual voice that's in direct contrast to his Salvation Army like suit, while Michael Blomgren makes Bill out as a nervously unsure semi-successful author, struggling with his life and his characters, often blurring the line between them.
The eleven scenes whiz by in little more than one hour, and, as usual, bring roars of laughs, dozens of ooohs and loud sustained applause at the end
Other Zombie players who add to the madness include Renie Rivas, Anne Stinnett, Tracie Cisneros, Cynthia Convey, Jordana Berliner and Dina Buglione.
The Rogue will continue to charm until December 18, 2005.
Pick of the Week
ReviewPlays.com
reviewplays.com/zj-rogue.htm
Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre
Once again Zombie Joe confirms that it has its roots firmly planted in the theatre of the absurd - the horrific - the experimental - and in the process of exploring all these, brings a unique experience to its following.
You can't really talk about Zombie Joe's without mentioning Josh T. Ryan, an absolute genius in progress, who can create any character, any scenario, any situation with a mere twist of the face, a flip of the eyebrow or a turn of the mouth, and as The Sophisticated Rogue brings alive a character that deals with total madness with the aplomb of an insurance broker quoting actuary figures.
"How many five-year olds can I beat up?" is the opening premise, which Ryan quickly and logically expands to discuss the relative difference in his size and that of five-year olds - the strength factor and the intellect, the force of his kicks contrasted to those of a five-year old, finally settling on an average number of 185 five-year olds he can overpower. By the time Ryan finishes, you are convinced he can do it, though not sure why anyone would want to. The Rogue has some definite ideas about his existence, his direction and his motivations which he openly discusses with the writer who created him.
Author /Director William Norrett, who wrote this expository discourse is probably equally off-center, following up the Rogue with Bill, a zany writer who created the Sophisticated Rogue and now has trouble keeping the character under control. Michael Blomgren, who was a powerhouse in Zombie's previous Dostoevsky, once again teams up with Ryan as his nemesis, and the two create a world more askew than a house of mirrors.
There's more. Bill meets the lovely Delia (Candida Rodriguez) who introduces herself as an agent for characters who have been in books, plays and films, and is attempting to extend the existence of some of the more famous protagonists by placing them in other projects. The scary thing is that the players are so sincere, you almost begin to believe this is a good idea!
As Delia mentions that she would love to land Harry Potter as a client, because that would be a fantastic representation, she also sets up a set of rules that Bill can and cannot have his characters perform. In the process, she signs up The Rouge, who now filled with a sense of power, threatens to walk away from Bill's story.
Sprinkled with vignettes of Bill's experiences with other women, notably his shrink (Denise Devin), and previous girl-friends, the surrealistic encounters explain Bill's evolution to create the Sophisticated Rogue, while the rest of the characters give an insight into Bills thought process.
The small space, which Zombie reconfigures with each new show, sports a wall full of modern art pieces and an imposing mural of a pink and white tree on a black background. Within a space that's almost eight feet wide and about twenty feet long, the actors are almost completely surrounded by the audience on two sides as they build a world populated by fringe people behaving in what they believe to be a normal way.
Josh Ryan infuses the Rogue with an almost Chaplinesque romance, with demure aristocracy, a twirling cane and an intellectual voice that's in direct contrast to his Salvation Army like suit, while Michael Blomgren makes Bill out as a nervously unsure semi-successful author, struggling with his life and his characters, often blurring the line between them.
The eleven scenes whiz by in little more than one hour, and, as usual, bring roars of laughs, dozens of ooohs and loud sustained applause at the end
Other Zombie players who add to the madness include Renie Rivas, Anne Stinnett, Tracie Cisneros, Cynthia Convey, Jordana Berliner and Dina Buglione.
The Rogue will continue to charm until December 18, 2005.
Pick of the Week
ReviewPlays.com
reviewplays.com/zj-rogue.htm
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