[NEohioPAL]Berko review: THE FAT PIG (The Bang and the Clatter)

[Roy Berko]

A MUST SEE!  ‘FAT PIG’--thought provoking, well
performed at BANG AND CLATTER

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	

The Bang and The Clatter is dedicated to producing
“innovative, challenging works, of exceptional quality
and imagination with a particular emphasis on modern
American plays.”  They intend not only to entertain,
but “to push the envelope, and lick it.”  They
accomplish those objectives in ‘FAT PIG,’ which is
getting its local premiere at B&C.

Neil LaBute, the play’s author, is noted for his
ability to expose the underbelly of human behavior. 
He often focuses on the casual cruelty that one person
can inflict on another, either intentionally or
unintentionally.  His recent feature film, ‘IN THE
COMPANY OF MEN,’ showcases two male co-workers who
relieve their boredom by deciding to both court a deaf
woman, build up her self-esteem, and then
simultaneously dump her. 

‘FAT PIG’ highlights the pettiness and meanness of
people who deride others because of their physical
appearance.  It showcases the effect of peer pressure
to conform to arbitrary evaluation of others.  To make
matters even more pointed, LaBute writes in such a way
that we laugh through our tears.  He makes the viewer
feel guilty about laughing, even psychologically
restricting the audience from applauding at the end of
brilliantly written and conceived scenes.

The script centers on a romance between an attractive
guy (Tom) with an upscale career and an amply endowed
Rubenesque woman (Helen).

Tom and Helen have their first encounter at a
self-service restaurant.  She is eating three slices
of pizza and dessert while he pecks away at a salad. 
They talk, she is charming and full of self-put downs
over her weight.  He, after a series of bad
relationships, including one with a co-worker, is
charmed with her unaffected realism.  They begin to
date.  He hides the fact from his co-workers. 
Eventually, the need to face reality hits and leads to
an emotionally drenched ending.

The Bang and The Clatter production, though a little
slowly paced, is enveloping.  Director Sean McConaha
has finely honed the skills of his actors.  He
highlights the emotional highs and lows, effectively
keys the pauses, glances and awkward moments.  He is
aided by a cast which ranges from brilliant to
effective.

Jenna Messina, as the full-bodied Helen, takes on a
very difficult role.  The actress who plays the role
must not only physically fit the part, but have a
personal attitude that allows the audience to truly
believe that in real life she is proud of who she is,
yet vulnerable to the attacks of others.  Messina
plays the role with total believability.  This is a
tour-de-force performance!

Sean Derry is not as physically attractive as might be
expected for the actor playing Tom .  He doesn’t have
the Brad Pitt looks that make women weak-kneed, but he
is such a fine actor that he makes us believe the
illusion is true.  He is brilliant in the final scene
as he glances toward where his friends are
congregated, probably making fun of the hefty Helen,
while carrying on a conversation with the woman he
supposedly loves.

Tony Waver shines as Tom’s caustic co-worker who
exemplifies all the shallowness of our
advertising-driven culture which stresses
superficiality and appearance over substance.  Alana
Romansky is convincing as Jeannie, a co-worker who
yearns for a permanent relationship with Tom, but, at
times her character slips and we get words rather than
meanings.

The production is aided by a well-conceived scenic
design by Sean Derry.   Sean McConaha’s selection of
musical interludes helped bridge the often overly long
between-scenes pauses.

In other productions of the play, the titles for each
of the seven scenes are projected on a screen.  The
device reinforces the theme of each segment.  It is an
effective device which could have helped the B&G’s
excellent production to be even more pointed.  

Capsule judgment:  Several years go, while visiting in
Washington, DC, I saw a production of ‘FAT PIG.’  The
show was outstanding and went on to win several Helen
Hayes’ Citations, DC’s equivalent of the Tony Awards. 
The Bang and The Clatter production is every bit as
effective as the presentation in the nation’s capital.
 THIS IS A MUST SEE  THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE!!!!!

‘FAT PIG’ runs through February 11 at The Bang and
Clatter Theatre, 140 E. Market Street in Akron .  For
tickets call 330-606-5317.  For $15 you get to see a
great show,  all the free wine, beer and soft drinks
you want, and free parking.  This is quite an
entertainment buy!  Order tickets immediately as the
theatre only holds about 75.

B&G’s next production is Adam Rapp’s ‘REDLIGHT
WINTER,’ which will be staged from February 23 through
March 25.


Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2002 through 2006, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info
      
Roy's theatre and dance reviews appear regularly on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal.  His dance reviews also appear on www.coolcleveland.com


 
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