Wednesday, November 11, 1998
Armageddon Sex Groove excites crowd
THEATER: Comedy show delivers shocking satire of president’s
scandal, nuclear warfare to small audience
By Danielle Myer
Daily Bruin Contributor
For the players in "The First Annual Armageddon Sex Groove,"
size doesn’t matter  the size of the stage, role or audience.
They managed to milk it all.
Performing at the Copperview Theatre to an audience of 10
people, two of whom left after intermission and others who fell
asleep, the company did a fabulous job of maintaining their focus
and delivering a disturbingly perverse yet ultimately comedic show
 for those who stayed awake.
The play’s two main plots consist of the president’s sex scandal
(which eerily mirrors the Clinton and Lewinsky headlines) and
nuclear bombs being dropped on Mexico and Malaysia by a genius gone
psycho. As the plot unravels, so do the crass jokes and lap dances.
Although the show doesn’t keep the audience in hysterics, there are
subtle and not-so-subtle one-liners that elicit a short cackle, an
amused guffaw or an embarrassed sigh.
Though the cast is few in number, their presence onstage is
always powerful. Notable performances come from quite a few of the
actors. Marcus Hennessy, who also wrote the play, performs the part
of Gen. Ramsbottom, one of the key comical figures and steals any
scene with his drunk swagger and sarcasm.
The general’s daughter, Georgina, played by Cynthia Abeln is
also a memorable character. Our introduction to her includes a
seductive dance to pumping rap music and a loud scream.
Though her lap dancing and lewd attitude left some viewers
noticeably squeamish, her energy and determination to make a small
role seem big is appreciated.
Lt. South, played by Curt Alan Bonnem, delivers some witty lines
and takes his character to extremes by standing at attention when
delivering dialogue and incessantly yelling, "Rrrroger that!" until
one of the other actors tells him to shut up.
The set that the players have to work with is simple yet
sufficient for the tiny theater, and the actors manage to keep
their own space and never appear cramped.
The set changes are simple and fast and the minimalist approach
is successful.
"The First Annual Armageddon Sex Groove" is a bit of a paradox.
The plot has a few holes in it, and the comedy isn’t totally
fluent, but something about the show leaves the audience talking
excitedly about what they’ve just seen.
Sure, some of the comments may be along the lines of "What the
heck was that?"
But above all, the company demands a response from their small
audience, good or bad. The actors look like they’re having fun and
have their groove thing on for the whole show. If the second annual
"Armageddon Sex Groove" is as odd as the first, Hennessy may have
found himself a series.
THEATER: "The First Annual Armageddon Sex Groove" is playing at
the Copperview Theatre through Nov. 21. Tickets are $12 to $15. For
more information, call (323) 469-4343.
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