[NEohioPAL] Review of "Pure Shock Value" at none too fragile theater

[Bob Abelman via NEohioPAL]

none too fragile’s ‘Pure Shock Value’ lives up to its title 



Bob Abelman

Cleveland Jewish News, The News Herald, The Morning Journal

Member, International Association of Theatre Critics

  

There is certainly no shortage of films that satire their own industry, including "Sullivan's Travels" (1941), "The Player" (1992), "Mulholland Drive" (2001) and the soon-to-be-released “Hail, Caesar” (2016).  And there are plays like Douglas Carter Beane’s “The Little Dog Laughed” (2006) and David Mamet’s “Speed the Plow” (2008) that do the same.



But none do it with comedy that is blacker or more profane than Matt Pelfrey’s “Pure Shock Value,” a little-traveled, fringe-festival favorite written in 2009.  And it is safe to say that few will do it better than none too fragile theater in Akron.  



The play’s severe shade of black and profound profanity are appropriate, considering that it not only takes aim at Hollywood but at director Quentin Tarantino – referred to as Julian Quintana in the play – in particular.  Tarantino’s movies have extensive dialogue that often involve banal topics but which erupt into gratuitous violence and vulgarity. No self-respecting, industry-despising satire would fail to follow suit.



For more of this article, go to www.clevelandjewishnews.com/columnists/.  
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