Big Death and Little Death
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Cast
Photo by Matt Kaiser
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By Joseph N. Feinstein
Combining a nihilistic fairy tale by playwright Mickey Birnbaum with great direction by Larry Biederman, a most innovative set designed by Claire Bennett, a novel array of lighting by John Eckert, and a heavy metal music melange by Condemption, the Road Theatre Company is presenting Big Death & Little Death until July 21. Last, but definitely not least, the play brings together a cast of eight of the most agile, dexterous players who run, climb, cavort, prostrate themselves, and, literally, stand on their heads to make points in order to more fully capture Birnbaum's death-defying dialogue.
When you hear such words as, "Would you touch me if I were dead? Would you eat me if I were dead? Every step you take, you breathe death! Sometimes you have to kill people if you want to help them!", you would be led to believe you were watching a most depressing play. Such is not the case, for the family of Mom (Rhonda Aldrich); Dad (Jeff Lebeau); Son Gary (Sean Wing); and Sister Kristi (Jeanne Syquia) do portray characters that will make you laugh and smile.
Miss Endor, Gary's school counselor, is ably played by Ann Noble, whose antics and behavior are included by Birnbaum to depict the all-too-often, real-life relationships between school personnel and students. Another segment of the play is designed to show the diminishing ethical structure in a society gone-to-hell.
The frightening bark of a dog, heard offstage through much of the play, becomes a reality as Zach Dull's puppy comes to life before us. His bark - much worse than his bite - is truly
worth the price of admission all by itself as he scampers to and fro, begging, retrieving, and rolling over.
If you have ever thought about death, this play will make you think about it even more.
Dad has post-traumatic stress disorder and expresses it in many ways; Mom has a need to express the affair with dire consequences she had, in detail, while dad was serving overseas. Sister has food issues and a scrapbook portraying death pictorially. Gary receives a gun in exchange for the litter of puppies he sells to Craig. This jolting,
humorous, and touching portrait of contemporary America was inspired by the true story of parents who took the heavy metal band, Judas Priest, to trial in Arizona, claiming that the band's lyrics led to the double suicide of their teenage boys.
Meanwhile, we are wondering how they built that set: fifteen steps up, on a forty-five degree angle, holding a table, four chairs and a working refrigerator that lights up whenever the door is opened; a bed that slips in and out with ease; a table which Ms. Endor picks up
and removes at the end of her scenes; and a 45 degree-angled table which serves as the sanctuary for the family at the apocalyptic end-of-the-world. Heavy metal music, significant lighting design, and stark costume changes all enhance the action on the stage. Deep, dark blackouts create a startling effect when the lights come up for a new scene.
Although Dad, in a moment of pique and frustration, is heard to holler, "Everything is a shit-load of nothing," I guarantee that this production will leave you breathless, excited, and applauding for a most wonder-full two hours in the theater. And, you will see the longest kiss ever recorded in any play....ever!
Big Death & Little Death The Road Theatre Company 5108 Lankershim Boulevard
North Hollywood 91601 Tel. 866-811-4111 Thursday - Saturday @ 8:00 p.m.; Sunday @ 2:00 p.m. Tickets: $25; Discount for Students and Seniors ; Playing until July 21
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