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Damet Mamet
OC WEEKLY Romantic forecast darker than an Alaskan winter? It could be worse. You could be actively dating and encountering the hell that David Mamet explored to often hilarious—and always dark—results in two short plays from the 1970s: "Sexual Perversity in Chicago" and "Bobby Gould in Hell". Astutely directed by Will Pellegrini for the Atomic
Theater Co., "Sexual Perversity" is Mamet at his wicked best,
dissecting the dysfunctional lives of the boastful Bernie (Kelsey Ryan)
and his quieter buddy Danny (Robb Padgett). Danny begins a relationship
with Deborah (Alex Bueno) while Deborah’s roomie, Joan (Tanya Ihnen),
and Bernie wait gleefully to rip apart the entrails of what they know
will result in failed romance. The actors subtly capture the myopic romantic
fumblings of the circa 1976 dating generation. But what has continually
made Mamet’s play popular among twentysomething theater types over
the years is that some things—like courtship—are timeless...
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NORTHERN LIGHTS It's a David Mamet double header. The AtoMic Theater Project, in conjunction with The Chance Theater, is offering a two-for-one special, for fans David Mamet. Entitled "Damet Mamet," the evening features two of the Pulitzer Prize winning playwright's one act plays - "Sexual Perversity in Chicago," and "Bobby Gould In Hell." Mamet is a noted American playwright whose themes reflect the psychological inner workings of a male dominated society. The main characters are exaggeratedly macho, the rhythms play like fine jazz, and the language is rude and crude. Well written and frank, Mamet often portrays misogyny in a darkly comic light - he's definitely not a favorite of the women's lib crowd. Born in Chicago, in 1947, Mamet's work sprang from the street attitudes he grew up with, living in the Second City, during the turbulent 60's and 70's. Four talented actors do double-duty to fill the roles in each play. Starting with "Perversity," Alex Bueno plays Deborah, a "pick-up" and short term girlfriend of Danny, played by Robb Padgett. Danny's best friend and chief bad influence is Bernie, played with a suitably arrogant attitude by Kelsey Ryan. Deborah's confidant is Joan, the ever hostile ex-roomate and loving Kindergarten teacher, neatly presented by Tanya Ihnen. Danny and Deborah meet, jump into a "relationship," actually get to know each other and find they have nothing in common. The split is less than amicable and is somehow disturbingly familiar. "Perversity" is done in a series of blackouts, highlighting the lives of these four characters. The men focus on inflating their self-image as lady killers, while the women chop the men down to a more manageable size. These are four very unpleasant characters - people you wouldn't want to hang out with - and yet it works on many levels. The actors seem to revel in their seedy 1976 Chicago drag - wearing blue leisure suits and wide ties - while seeking the lowest common denominator in life. Those in their 20's or early 30's will relate to the attitude. Others may not get the joke. "Bobby Gould In Hell" plucks a character from an earlier Mamet piece, "Speed-The-Plow," and follows him into the afterlife. The prospect of facing a hellish eternity, for "being a bad person" is what awaits Bobby. Played in a complete turn-about, as a nebish victim by Ryan, the slender actor gets to stretch his acting muscles in this devilish comedy. Bobby tries to earn his way back to an earthly life by negotiating with a low-level horned creature - the interrogator - played with gusto by Padgett. Bueno is a riot as the interrogator's assistant! Her gum chewing, absent-minded, nasal delivery sparks big laughs, as she "helps" the process along. Also reappearing, as Bobby's jilted lover Glenda, is Ihnen. Once in Hell, she quickly gets on the dark one's nerves. Bobby seems vindicated, but is he? You'll have to show up to find out! With lines like - "Nothing is black and white!" "What about a Panda?" - and you get the idea that Hell may be torture, but still has a funny bone. Directed smartly by Will Pellegini, with sound by Omar Inguranzo and lighting by Robert G. Davis, "Bobby Gould In Hell" make's great use of the small stage, has excellent sound effects and imaginative lighting. According to producer Darryl B. Hovis, "The
AtoMic Theater Project grew out of the Culver City Academy of Visual Arts."
Hovis explained "It's been my intention of doing meaningful and thought-provoking
pieces, while pushing my students to a professional level." In this
Hovis has been quite successful.
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