Beth Wilmurt and Mark Jackson have produced a Companion Piece with a frantic, madcap glory that that gives striking insights to the creative process. While the polished vaudevillian Headliner (Jake Rodriguez) mugs the audience and chews gum endlessly, the Duo (Beth Wilmurt and Christopher Kuckenbaker) are backstage with a variety of props trying to create an act to upstage him – and each other. Now playing at Z Space, this is a “devised” work: the skits the Duo goes through were developed through improvisation and set for the play, appearing to be spontaneous acts.
The Headliner
The dapper Headliner is lively, athletic and lavishly leers at the audience. His greasy act with exaggerated gestures bookends the backstage activity, appearing at the beginning and end, bracketing the failed efforts of the Duo to come up with an act.
The Lonely Vaudevillian raises his backdrop to reveal a bare stage. On the sides lurks various backstage detritus, such as costume racks, a piano, rolling spotlights, ladders, a large trunk, trampolines, and other props for the Duo to draw from as their imagination works. Mr.Kuckenbaker takes a rolling ladder to the star’s dressing room door, located high in an otherwise blank wall with no step.
The Duo
The Duo sets folding chairs together center stage and over a microphone requests responses from the audience. On their post-mortem of the show they supposedly just finished, they answer questions. Ms. Wilmurt charmingly demonstrates her wonderful ability to appear naïve and trusting during a fake “post-show natters on about the “structure” of the show until Mr.Kuckenbaker takes away the mic. As they move through various skits, there is a running gag with a potted plant: no matter where Mr.Kuckenbaker places it Ms. Wilmurt moves it.
Vaudeville with a bite
This wacky comedy is like a play-writing workshop, with brainstorming people unafraid to confront the ludicrous as part of the creative process. The subtext of this competition for the winning idea is a poignant story of identity and success.
The world premiere of Companion Piece, directed by Mark Jackson, conceived by Beth Wilmurt and produced in association with Encore Theatre Company, continues through February 13 at Z Space, 450 Florida Street, San Francisco. Tickets ($20 to $40) are available online at www.zspace.org or by phone at 800.83.-3006.
For a more complete review visit www.DoctorTheater.com.
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