.jpg)
Penguins, an irreverent dark comedy, runs until August 23
The collaboration of writer Scot Augustson and director Bret Fetzer has brought to Annex Theatre's nightlife Part I in Augustson's new play, Penguins. This madcap dark comedy features gun-toting nuns, an obscene game of Biblical charades, a "hit" put out by a priest on a contentious nun, and a graphic sexual demonstration with dolls.
Not for the easily offended, and not intended to be, Penguins plays with the kind of tongue-in-cheek violence and euphemistic humor you might find in Death to Smoochy. Augustson has taken the easily targeted and often ridiculed Catholic church and reimagined it as a well-organized Mafia that pits priest against sister, and features characters with chaste Irish accents in public who quickly slide into a dialect more expected of Bugsy Malone or Big Jule when left to speak amongst themselves. Sister Bernadette launches the mayhem when she comes to the dictatorial and chauvinist Father Jones with a few demands from her fellow sisters, and a blackmail file thicker than a Bible. Nonplussed by this, Jones calls up "the Organist" to put a hit out on Bernie. Through clever lighting and some upstaging, the audience is not exactly sure who is ultimately targeted in the shooting, and, while a funeral is held for Sister Bernadette, she makes strange appearances and occasionally does the dishes for her mother, who wants to nominate her for sainthood.
The situational comedy of the plot plays out against the backdrop of sex-starved nuns and randy priests, who find as many ways as they can to discuss, reenact, and pantomime sex without actually breaking their vow of chastity. Sultry conversations between Father Luke and Sister Candy are particularly humorous, although Lucy Shelby as Candy is somewhat weak and lacks the snappy comic timing of her fellow actors. Lisa Viertel sells the no-nonsense, tough-talking Bernadette with ease, while Daniel Christensen as Luke and Organist, Chris Dietz as Father Jones, and Teri Lazzara as Connie Sullivan and Sister Daphne seem perfectly at home and professional in their comic roles and easily connect with the audience, using each moment's potential to its fullest. One can hope that these same actors will reprise their roles in Part II of Penguins, premiering in January of 2010.
For those interested in the bawdy nightlife of comedy, it's well worth the trek down to Annex Theatre for an affordable evening of laughs and I highly recommend Barca just one door down for pre-show drinks. Although the Annex itself does feature a bar and snacks and you won't find any signs telling you not to bring food or drink into the theater.
For more info: Penguins runs until August 23 Fridays and Saturdays at 11 pm, Sundays at 8 pm. Tickets $10 general admission, $5 Student, senior, and military.
Comments