Opening
night of Java Tacoma at Dukesbay
Theatre was a lot of fun.
That’s Java Tacoma Episode 4 — or so it was
listed on the program even though the previous episode was Episode 38. You just
can’t trust these home-grown soap operas for truth in advertising.
 |
| Rehearsal for Java Tacome. Aya Hashaguchi Clark (left) and Chevi Chung. Director Randy Clark in background.Photo by Jason Ganwich |
 |
| from left: Aya Hashiguchi Clark, Marie Tjernlund and Chevi Chung. Photo by Jason Ganwich |
The
show was written by Matthew L. Anderson, directed by Randy Clark, set in
Tacoma, and performed by a fun ensemble
cast featuring some well-known and well-loved actors. I won’t risk spoiling it
by saying anything about the plot (thin but interesting), because there are
surprises and a mystery at the heart of the story. I will say, however, that it
is a parody of . . . well, just about everything from murder mysteries to soap
operas to Broadway musicals. I will also venture to say — because this doesn’t
give anything away — that at least one character in the story hates show tunes
so much that if you wanted to torture him or her the best way to do it would be
to force him (or her) to listen to show tunes. And I will also say that there
are some political shenanigans going on and threats of bribery, and karaoke and
a war between vegan and paleo cookies.
Did
I give away too much? There’s a lot going on in this show.
Susan
Mayeno, whom local theater-goers will remember from The Joy Luck Club at Tacoma Little Theatre, plays Jeri “Effen”
Rockwell with unbridled intensity.
Aya
Hashiguchi Clark plays Linda, the frustrated and put-upon owner of the coffee
shop where all the action takes place.
Chevi
Chung plays Anna, Linda’s headstrong daughter. To my knowledge, this is the
first time I’ve ever seen Chung on a South Sound stage. She’s a graduate of the
Guildford School of Acting in England.
Jack
House, known for his roles in August Wilson’s great drama Radio Golf at the Broadway Center and for The Color Purple at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, is great as Linda’s
clueless husband, Bert.
Longtime
Tacoma favorite Micheal O’Hara is outstanding as the sleazy cop, Frank.
O’Hara’s
equally renowned and much loved wife, Sharry O’Hare, proves to be a karaoke
queen and a dancing fool as Phyllis, perhaps the worst barista in the West.
John
Pfaffe, another local favorite, plays the thespian wannabe John, and does
screamingly funny impersonations of a slew of popular movie stars.
And
finally, Marie Tjernlund is commanding as Kate, the ultra-vain entrepreneur who
lost a recent city council race to Bert. How could anybody lose to Bert? He
can’t even go to the store to buy coffee without screwing up.
During
the first scenes I thought the entire cast was over acting, hamming it up like
self-absorbed amateurs, which surprised me because I knew most of the actors
were better than that. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, I decided that
maybe they seemed overblown because the seats were so close to the action. But
quickly I realized they were lampooning overly dramatic actors and doing it
well, especially when they burst into song and even more so when they went into
stop-action poses.
Anderson’s
script is clever and rife with insider references to Tacoma.
It is a short play, about an hour in length with no intermission. It starts early, at 7:30 p.m., and lets out
early enough for patrons to go out for drinks or an after-show dinner.
An
interesting thing I noticed opening night: The theater seats around 30, and
most seats were filled. In the audience I counted five actors and three
critics, a potentially critical crowd. They were laughing throughout. This
tells me two things: 1) that local theater folk support one another, and 2)
that it was a funny show. (Full disclosure: I didn’t see if the other critics
were laughing, but I certainly was.)
WHERE:
The Dukesbay Theatre, 508 S. Sixth Ave #10, Tacoma (3rd Floor Merlino Art
Center)
WHEN:
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. through April 13
TICKETS:
$10, advance tickets at http://javatacoma.brownpapertickets.com
INFORMATION: 253-267-0869, www.dukesbay.org
INFORMATION: 253-267-0869, www.dukesbay.org
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