Much hilarity ensued as we watched the Saturday, March 22 performance of the newest of Foothill College plays — “Greek Mythcomedy.” Using a format of six short plays, the entire work is a semi-modern, somewhat slapstick take on favorite Greek legends. Playwriter Katie Ruppert shows considerable talent and makes a cameo appearance in the final playlet. We rate each piece on a scale of one to five LOLs.
Act I
Are you there Aphrodite?
“Are you there, Aphrodite? It’s me … Gary” led the show. Gary, a science fiction obsessed nerd, prays to Aphrodite for a girlfriend (or, at least, a female companion). Much to his amazement, his prayer is answered. Sort of. This piece is a little cringeworthy, but Kevin Reid as Gary pulls off a pretty amazing near-monologue with over-the-top teenage angst. Tara Harte-Rodriguez plays Gary’s mom (exclusively from the wings) with a voice that would terrorize any teenage boy. 3 LOLs.
“Kappa Delta Epsilon: The First Sorority” puts the Greek back in Greek sorority. Trisha (Melissa Baxter), Gina (Marley Westley) and Leah (Lauren Ackerly) plan their sorority’s spring party. Questions abound: one Hydra or two? And can they match last year’s party by a competing sorority? The aforementioned Tara Harte-Rodriguez turns in a bitingly vicious performance as Filomenia, who planned the previous year’s gala. Also noteworthy: Jerris Ramirez as Apollo in a performance so far over the top that I have no words to describe it. Valley Girls meet the Odeon. 4 LOLs mainly because the piece is a little long and repetitive.
Ancient History
“Ancient History” combines ancient Greece, the myth of Atlantis, and Indiana Jones style archaeology. There’s also a sendup of academics. Angela (Putrina Rafie) is an aspiring intern who believes she has discovered the location of Atlantis based on wavy lines on a pottery shard. Her, um, supervisor and lecher-in-chief is Sam (Erik Scilley). Sam’s boss and the principal investigator is Doria (Kaz Alice). Like the first playlet, this has its cringe moments, but Ms. Rafie’s performance and her excellent work with a flipchart and easel rescues the venture. 3 LOLs.
Interview in Hades
“Interview in Hades” posits the fascinating question, “What would an interview with Satan be like in the age of social media?” Charnneé Young plays Irma, a journalist assigned to interview Hades at his home office. Accompanied by her camera crew, she impatiently awaits the arrival of the big guy. Hades (Joshua Robben) appears complete with two Secret Service guards and the delectable Persephone (Nikita Sethi). Special guest appearance by Adonis (Erik Scilley). Let’s just say that getting the interview and admittance to the underworld is considerably easier than leaving. 4 LOLs.
Act II
10 PM at St. James Hotel
“10 p.m. at the St. James Hotel” opens in a comfortable, somewhat dark, bar circa 1950. A “noir” mini-drama, it’s a change of pace from the comedy skits. Mrs. Amanda Jefferson (Brittany Pisoni) is sipping a sidecar, seated alone at the bar. She is accosted by a seemingly inebriated Teddy (Zhifeng Wang showing serious physical comedy chops). When his advances are rebuffed, he staggers out of the bar, but mysteriously sobers up after exiting. He tells an arriving young lady, “Didn’t work. She’s all yours.”
The mystery deepens as the new arrival orders a Manhattan from Arnold, the bartender (Dominic Dee whose understated acting is a nice counterbalance to the general chaos). The newcomer then persuades Amanda to try a Gin Sin. (I’d repeat the recipe, but it will almost certainly lead to a wicked hangover.) It develops that Amanda’s new BFF is Aphrodite (Megan Coomans). Aphrodite tries to persuade Amanda to go meet a man sitting at a table (Edgar Harris, played by Bimas Gharti Chhetry). Amanda resists.
Aphrodite is brought back into line with the arrival of Hera (Kaz Alice). Hera and Aphrodite have an aside, revealing that Edgar is Amanda’s soulmate. Hera, however, continues to berate Aphrodite for interfering in the lives of mortals.
Amanda is waiting in the bar expecting her two-timing husband James (Joshua Robben in a non-speaking role) to arrive and meet his paramour Victoria (Melissa Baxter). Amanda, Aphrodite, and Hera hide behind the bar as the two adulterers get their drinks, sip a bit, then depart arm in arm.
The three women emerge from hiding. Hera has changed her tune — considerably. She now encourages Amanda to go sit with Edgar. The two deities depart, leaving Amanda thinking things over. She eventually does approach Edgar who — surprise — is also drinking a sidecar. The metaphorical curtain falls with the two sitting together.
Of the six playlets, this has the most developed structure and complexity. Performances are uniformly excellent, all the way down to the barback (Seamus O’Connell). I’d encourage Ms. Ruppert to develop the characters a bit more, possibly even giving James and Victoria a few (more) lines. 5 stars (too serious and too good for LOL).
Katie Ruppert in the black Garbage bag, acting out…
“Homer for Dummies” is pure slapstick. Ms. Ruppert takes the stage as a writer, director, and actor trying to stage Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey in 20 minutes or so. All five actors (Ms. Ruppert plus Chase Kinsey, Jacob Weissman-Sharer, Jerris Ramirez, and Chris Davis) play multiple roles. Ms. Ruppert periodically berates the other actors and explains items to the audience, lending a wonderful note of surrealism to the proceedings. A central feature of the play is a large storage chest. Various actors rummage through it periodically in search of props. At one point, an apple is being sought. Unable to find the apple, the actor substitutes mini-Batman. The apple reappears later, with one character exclaiming, “There’s the apple!” At which point the actor holding the apple takes one bite and tosses it over his shoulder.
If you enjoy physical comedy, this is the piece for you. The actors expose themselves to various pratfalls, mock battles, slips, slides, and just about everything else you can imagine. Mr. Ramirez reprises his role as Apollo from “Kappa Delta Epsilon.” At several points, there are in your face conversations with the first row audience. We were happy we had seats in the second row. 4LOLs
I have no idea if this work will be mounted anywhere else. I hope so. It’s too good to only be seen by a fortunate few hundred.
