Tuesday, May 19, 1998
Great experiment takes viewers through cultural history
THEATER: Blue Sphere presents metamorphosis of America,
1964-1998
By Vanessa VanderZanden
Daily Bruin Staff
We begin our tale in a small suburban home circa 1964. Enter
revolution, a collapse in values and a resurgence of social
welfare. We end our tale in a small suburban home circa 1998.
In just two short hours, the Blue Sphere Alliance explains the
socio-economic motives which have shaped the past four decades.
Their comical production of "The Great Experiment?" utilizes a tiny
Hollywood theater space to make the sweeping overview. Running
through June 14, the show will undoubtedly evoke chuckles and
stimulate conversation.
Centering around a typical family of four, the changing American
social environment comes to life. As the years go by, the audience
watches as the characters exchange a passive faith in democracy for
a more active role in their own lives. This metamorphosis involves
a balance between bettering one’s self-interests as well as those
of all of humanity.
The two sides – greed and humanitarianism – exist in character
form. Randolph Perkins (Keith Allan) hilariously represents the
nerdy, bean-poled family genius, dead-set on ruthless
entrepeneurship. His elitist, socially misfitted form finds the
perfect contrast in the mystical renter, Charlene Jones (Tangie
Ambrose), who voluptuously exudes peace, love and social
activism.
Their love-hate battle is waged through the actions of
Randolph’s sister and parents, who stand in for all Americans. In
this way, Randolph and Charlene become more like the devil and
angel characters of the larger social conscience than personalities
at a par with the rest of the Perkins family. This clever device
turns the tale from being a "Forest Gump"-inspired piece to a
unique social portrait in its own right.
Beyond benefitting from June Daniels’ innovative script, Blue
Sphere Alliance pulls off the production through their own sharp
performances. Marnie Neve plays the mother figure, Myrtle Perkins,
with all of the charming, though aloof, sincerity that a woman just
experiencing the feminist revolution would be likely to meet. Her
husband, Horace Perkins (Mik Scriba), maintains his adorably gruff
exterior throughout the work, while the daughter, Rina Perkins
(Tamara Craig Thomas), exudes the determined, zesty fire of youth,
whether picketing on Capitol Hill or embracing a profitable crystal
meth market, straight to the end.
By only changing a few set pieces, the various decades seem to
transform the tiny stage area. A flower-strewn coffin, revealing
the tradition-heavy early ’60s, soon becomes replaced by a cheap
’70s desk and a round wicker chair. Next to go are the
poster-strewn walls in place of the corporate-themed ’80s
environment of sterile black laquer.
However, as though existing in a sort of Mount Olympus domain,
Randolph’s upstairs bedroom sees little change. His victory in the
’80s provides him with a talking computer, though the old-school
posters proclaiming personal progress remain on his wall until the
last scene. Likewise, his starched black shirt, black pants and
standard issue black glasses never leave his frame.
Contrastingly, the other characters move from one ridiculous
fashion statement to the next, in line with the trends of the day.
Each time, these outfit changes elicit a roar of laughter from the
amused audience. They watch in disbelief as the barking family
bread-winner moves from a dark jacket and tie into a lycra leisure
suit.
Such witty staging techniques mask the darker, underlying themes
of the humorous piece. One witty phrase after the next flies across
the stage, the whole time relating to the more serious implications
of the changing eras. In this context, the past 40 years are
re-explored, finding a suitable social balance in its own
right.
THEATER: "The Great Experiment?" will play on Fridays and
Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 7 p.m. through June 14 at The
Lex Theater, 6760 Lexington Ave., Hollywood. Tickets are $12. For
more information, call (213) 957-5782.
Blue Sphere Alliance
Keith Allan and Tangie Ambrose star in "The Great
Experiment?"