Brain Surgeon Theater brings a darkly fanciful romp to Rhinofest
Looking for a weekend outing that is engaging, young-audience appropriate, and clocks in at just 45 minutes? Head to the Prop Thtr this Saturday and Sunday for Brain Surgeon Theater’s Johnny Ten Bones, part of Rhinofest 2010.
Watching a performance of this original musical is a bit like asking a child to explain a recurring dream; it’s wildly imaginative, a little disjointed, and delightfully strange. The story follows four children in a seemingly-normal American town in the late 1950s. When our heroes take on a local legend, they find themselves pulled into a dark underworld peopled with the collective dreams, nightmares, and memories of the townsfolk. The villains encountered in Johnny Ten Bones’ lair offer a glimpse into the psyche of a child. Here, a typical bully is distorted into a larger-than-life fiend; a lost child adopts the persona of a lost love to lure a new victim; dolls and teddy bears are cherished (and powerful) friends. As the final showdown commences between the real, adult world and the surreal playground of children, the kids discover that even the most frightening creatures may have a troubled, all-too-human past.
The cast delivers a passionate, committed performance all around, creating a sense of camaraderie with the audience. It’s as though each of them is saying, “Yes, this is a crazy show, but I believe in it, I’m having fun, and I’m here to see that you do, too.” Stand-outs include David Weiss, who brings great comedic timing to the role of the perpetually picked-on Ashley, and the adorably eerie portrayal of twin sisters Charlene and Darlene, played by Ulana Coutts and Liz Ladach-Bark, respectively.
Johnny Ten Bones was created as a collaborative effort by the original cast, most of whom have returned for this production. The Brain Surgeons have wisely chosen not to explain some of the more fantastic elements of the story (an egg that acts as a pseudo closed circuit TV, stick puppet townsfolk), trusting instead that their audience will simply go along for the ride. And for the most part, it’s easy enough to go wherever the story may lead. Indeed, moments of lag time are rare, usually occurring only when the dialogue sinks into exposition. While the cast has incorporated some resourceful techniques to keep the audience engaged (most notably by opening up the space and using shadow play), the characters’ back stories are at their best when they are kept to an unobtrusive line or two.
Johnny Ten Bones plays Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm, through February 14th. What better way to spend Valentine’s with your loved ones than to take in this dream-like show? As you journey through this strange world, I guarantee you will think “Wait, what?” on more than one occasion, but I can also promise that you will never, NEVER be bored. And who knows, maybe it’ll help you get back in touch with your inner child.
www.brainsurgeontheater.org
Photos by Ryan Ward Thompson, www.ryanwardthompson.com
Watching a performance of this original musical is a bit like asking a child to explain a recurring dream; it’s wildly imaginative, a little disjointed, and delightfully strange. The story follows four children in a seemingly-normal American town in the late 1950s. When our heroes take on a local legend, they find themselves pulled into a dark underworld peopled with the collective dreams, nightmares, and memories of the townsfolk. The villains encountered in Johnny Ten Bones’ lair offer a glimpse into the psyche of a child. Here, a typical bully is distorted into a larger-than-life fiend; a lost child adopts the persona of a lost love to lure a new victim; dolls and teddy bears are cherished (and powerful) friends. As the final showdown commences between the real, adult world and the surreal playground of children, the kids discover that even the most frightening creatures may have a troubled, all-too-human past.
The cast delivers a passionate, committed performance all around, creating a sense of camaraderie with the audience. It’s as though each of them is saying, “Yes, this is a crazy show, but I believe in it, I’m having fun, and I’m here to see that you do, too.” Stand-outs include David Weiss, who brings great comedic timing to the role of the perpetually picked-on Ashley, and the adorably eerie portrayal of twin sisters Charlene and Darlene, played by Ulana Coutts and Liz Ladach-Bark, respectively.
Johnny Ten Bones was created as a collaborative effort by the original cast, most of whom have returned for this production. The Brain Surgeons have wisely chosen not to explain some of the more fantastic elements of the story (an egg that acts as a pseudo closed circuit TV, stick puppet townsfolk), trusting instead that their audience will simply go along for the ride. And for the most part, it’s easy enough to go wherever the story may lead. Indeed, moments of lag time are rare, usually occurring only when the dialogue sinks into exposition. While the cast has incorporated some resourceful techniques to keep the audience engaged (most notably by opening up the space and using shadow play), the characters’ back stories are at their best when they are kept to an unobtrusive line or two.
Johnny Ten Bones plays Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm, through February 14th. What better way to spend Valentine’s with your loved ones than to take in this dream-like show? As you journey through this strange world, I guarantee you will think “Wait, what?” on more than one occasion, but I can also promise that you will never, NEVER be bored. And who knows, maybe it’ll help you get back in touch with your inner child.
www.brainsurgeontheater.org
Photos by Ryan Ward Thompson, www.ryanwardthompson.com