Seven Crimes’ in one night
Sledgehammer Theatre has opened its first season at the newly reopened Tenth Avenue Theatre (930 Tenth Ave., between Broadway and E St., www.sledgehammer.org or 619-544-1484).
Directed by Sledgehammer co-founder, artistic director and La Jolla Country Day drama instructor Scott Feldsher, the piece “” “Seven Crimes: A Celebration of Murder, Mayhem and Mutilation” ” is an example of the 20th century Parisian genre known as Grand Guignol, a kind of blending of melodrama and sadistic, overblown reality. Think of the makeup and style of Stephen Sondheim’s 1979 blood-soaked Broadway musical, “Sweeney Todd,” staged by Harold Prince.
A core company performs three short and macabre works: “The Awful Pleasure,” “Seven Crimes” and “The Terrible Experiment,” each intentionally bloody and awful. Palate cleansing is provided by fabulous vocalist and UCSD graduate Mei-Ling Downey, sexy and perky as dominatrix of ceremonies. She is abetted on sound effects by Scott Paulson, her musician and slave. Music and original sound design are by Pea Hicks. Nicole Black creates a marvelous off-kilter set; Mary Larson, appropriate and usually outrageous costumes; and Elvira Perez, the lighting design.
Actors Lydia Butynski, Janel DeGuzman, Dana Hooley, Stanley Madruga, Mike Oravec, John Polak and Walter Ritter make up the company. Perhaps destined to become Sledgehammer’s holiday classic and recommended for mature audiences only (simulated sex and lots of blood and blades), “Seven Crimes” continues Thursday to Sunday through Nov. 4 only, with a special Halloween performance at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31.
Laughing at vampires
Meanwhile, back at Cygnet Theatre, the storyteller’s art is alive and well and in the good hands of director Sean Murray and actor Ron Choularton, who weaves Conor McPherson’s tale titled “St. Nicholas.” The work is more humorous than macabre even though it concerns vampires.
Seated in a chair center stage, Choularton swills stage beer as he portrays a nasty Dublin theater critic, the type who parties with the actors after the show despite thinking them, well, unspeakable. He loves being hated and feared. The words he thinks are all in narration, so ye canna have delicate ears.
One night, at a boozy party following a dreadful play at The Abbey Theatre, the Critic falls for the lovely ingénue, so much so that when the play closes to reopen in London, he leaves hearth and home to follow her. Call it midlife crisis or advanced alcoholism, he’s a fool and he knows it. His quest is not successful, but that night he meets a charismatic man named Michael in the park and goes home with him. Michael is a vampire, but not the kind that turns others into one. There are six female vampires in the household as well, but Critic is Michael’s special property.
Each night Critic goes to London on a procurement mission for his host. Then the night becomes oblivion. Days pass pleasantly enough in the attic room where he reads and writes, nothing good, mind you.
Choularton is masterful at making listeners feel present in these macabre circumstances, and despite the fact that this is not a likable character, we care about him. It is all screamingly funny, certainly a tale and a performance that must be seen. It continues through Nov. 10, playing in repertory with “The Turn of the Screw” at Cygnet Theatre, 6663 El Cajon Blvd. at Montezuma Road, San Diego. For tickets and information, visit www.cygnettheatre.com or call (619) 337-1525.
‘The Busy World Is Hushed’
Through Oct. 28 only, Diversionary Theatre presents Keith Bunin’s 2006 off-Broadway produced “The Busy World Is Hushed.” Diversionary’s production, staged by executive and artistic director Dan Kirsch in his first outing here as stage director, is a worthy effort, though the heavily freighted play is flawed. The acting company comprises real-life pastor Jerusha Matsen Neal as Hannah, a widowed Episcopalian priest; Aaron Marcotte as her troubled 27-year-old son; and Barron Henzel as a blocked writer hired to help Hannah complete a book that includes exploration of recently discovered Gnostic texts. Hannah hopes that the blossoming love between the two men will provide each with the kind of anchor that faith provides her, and once her meddling is discovered recriminations prevail; faith and relationship are sorely tested.
The acting is superb and set designer Greg Stevens’ detailed study is a joy to behold.
Playing through Oct. 28 at Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd., San Diego. For tickets and information, visit www.diversionary.org or call (619) 220-0097.
