Weekly Herald
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The back story for Jeff Goode's "The Eight Reindeer Monologues" reads like a news headline.
On stage, actor after actor wearing antlers trashes the fat man in the red suit, the grandpa figure that gets his jollies bringing kids toys the night before Christmas. The "Monologues" play like standup comedy generating out of the back story.
Imagine students of drama at Shoreline Community College taking on a controversial blockbuster like Penn State or Herman Cain. I'm talking sleaze, out-of-control innuendo, off color language and laughs, laughs, laughs.
Off the bat, in that hush-hush way gossips have, James Lynch from Lynnwood does Dasher delivering the word. The old man had his way with Vixen and she is suing. Lynch's delivery is eye-to-eye, straight from the shoulder, no kidding - and hilarious.
Colin Blakely is Cupid, the low-keyed, no swish gay, letting you in on the know. Blakely's got the implied wink down pat.
Prancer calls himself Hollywood and acts like a Hollywood actor out of work but with offers. Dylan McKinney's interpretation is self-preening for fun.
Lacey Champlin's Blitzen registers definite feminist with "Why would Vixen lie?"
Ry Glascock's Comet would saint Santa. Santa got him into rehab for drugs and then a job moonlighting Dec. 24.
Clueless sums up Dancer, the ex-ballerina played by Jessica Weight from Lynnwood.
Stephen Clark from Everett profiles Donner, Rudolph's guilt-ridden dad who always knew what the dirty old man was doing with his son behind the toy shop's closed doors. Clark's performance tugs at your heart strings.
Molly Tollefson adds a tender touch as Vixen, the alleged victim. The suffering involved is hardly worth the effort it takes to make her abuser pay for what he did.
Klae Bainter's directing keeps this satire moving in the direction playwright Jeff Goode intends. The mood is consistent, though deliveries falter here and there.
But the point is made: Our fascination with smearing public figures is out of control.
Performances run through Nov. 19 at College Theatre, Shoreline Community College. Showtime, 7:30 pm. Tickets available at the door.