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Disclaimer:
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Peer Reviews The As If Body Loop by Ken Weitzman A review by David DeSpain Entire contents are copyright © 2007, David DeSpain. All rights reserved.
The As If Body Loop -- which is the theory that a witness to a particular emotionally charged incident will be affected 'as if' they themselves were involved -- centers around Aaron and his interactions with his rather unusual family. His sister Sarah is apparently one of the 36 people on the earth that are destined to bear the suffering of the rest of us. Seven billion divided by 36. That's a lot of suffering -- too much, it seems, for social worker Sarah, whose grasp on reality is becoming tenuous at best. Aaron jumps in to help, recruiting the aid of his brother Glenn, who fancies himself a new-age healer but who breaks out in a horrible rash whenever he leaves the house. Aaron tries not to involve their mother, who is so batty that she has been living in the attic for several years; but by the play's end, he finds that maybe she is not quite as crazy as he thought. The 'Body Loop' does very well in walking that thin line between going for laughs and dealing seriously with heavy topics such as abuse and mental illness. The laughs, of which there are many, however, never seem to come at the expense of the characters or the story, although there were several times during the performance when the actors had to make significant pauses to allow for the laughter and applause to die down.
Marc Grapey does a very good job in his portrayal of Aaron. From the beginning, he is likable, and the audience is drawn easily into his life and troubles. Josh Lefkowitz also plays the role of Glenn, the brother, to fine effect. They play off of one another very well, and the lines flow smoothly when they are on stage together. Keith Randolph Smith, who plays Martin, one of Sarah's many clients as a social worker, comes on stage bringing an extraordinary amount of energy. Martin's particular brand of histrionics is engaging, and one cannot help but be swept up in his enthusiasm. Jana Robbins as the mother, and Kristin Fiorella as sister Sarah, do well with their characters, but unfortunately they are not written with the same depth as the others. They are the motivating forces behind what happens in the play, but they seem more two-dimensional, and so do not draw the audience to them as much. The lighting designer, Deb Sullivan, the sound designer, Benjamin Marcum, and the scenic designer, Paul Owens, all deserve to be mentioned for their outstanding contributions to the success of this show. Each makes excellent use of the equipment that the theater has on hand. The many sight and sound cues flow seamlessly, as do the changing of sets via things coming up through the floor or down from the ceiling. Several times, a mere change in lighting allows for scene changes. Kudos to these three and anyone else involved in pulling off these aspects of the show. The 'Body Loop' was a fine evening out, with plenty of laughs and a thought-provoking idea or two. The script is solid, the acting quite good, and the staging very well done indeed. Kudos to playwright Ken Weitzman and director Susan V. Booth.
The As If Body Loop
Posted Mar. 24, 2007 |
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