stupidity shines in the province

Argentine play 'Stupidity' shines in Theatre Conspiracy production

By Jerry Wasserman, The Province
Sunday, October 14, 2007

STUPIDITY (La Estupidez)

Where: Studio 16, 1545 W. 7th Ave.
When: to Oct. 21
Tickets: $24/$16 at 604-231-7535
Grade: A-

Argentine writers and artists are not generally well known outside of Argentina, with the exception of Jorge Luis Borges. His short stories are dazzling intellectual puzzles in the form of labyrinths, gardens of forking paths where multiple dimensions of time and space proliferate and mirror each other in brain-twisting fashion.

Argentine playwright Rafael Spregelburd has written a Borgesian farce, set in a series of identical Las Vegas motel rooms in which five actors morph seamlessly into a couple of dozen characters entangled in multiple sub-plots.

Spregelburd's Stupidity (La Estupidez) only hints at the intellectual density of Borges. But in Theatre Conspiracy's English-language premiere production, it's one of the funniest plays Vancouver has seen in years.

The various plots have to do with a trio of corrupt gay cops, a couple of shysters trying to sell a phony painting to a variety of sleazy rich people, a scientist who has an invaluable secret about the future of the Earth and a son in trouble with the mob, a trio with a scheme to beat the house at blackjack, an investigative journalist, good time girls and more.

As you might guess from the title, none of them - except the scientist - shines in the brain department. And he sells his story to a gossip magazine.

What does dazzle here is the work of the five performers under the slick, high-tempo direction of Richard Wolfe. Each one excels in a variety of characters, each with a distinctive comic tic and cheesy accent. Moving in and out of Al Frisk's cleverly simple set, a generic motel room with three doors, they change into one after another of Barbara Clayden's wonderful costumes and transform in record time offstage. After a few scenes, the audience's anticipation of who will enter through which door into which scene as which character is almost as much fun as the performances themselves.

It's hard to choose favourites. There's Allan Morgan's blowhard cop, hilarious Japanese businessman and blond-wigged party guy, Naomi Wright's gagging girlfriend and mod English con-woman, Johann Helf's Texas oilman and angry son, Alex Zahara's barbecuing neighbour and Mafia heavy, Nicole Leroux's talkaholic honey and wheelchair-bound mute.

A scene in which Morgan and Zahara's cops and Leroux's mute try to communicate in sign-language had me laughing so hard I thought I would hurt myself.

Credit needs to go to Crispin Whittell for his superb colloquial English translation, and to stage manager Jaimie Tait and dressers Dennise Velasco and Norine Webster for maintaining what must be an insane backstage pace.

Although a few scenes go on too long, I didn't want this show to be over. Who knew that Argentines, Vegas, or stupidity could be so much fun?

jerry.wasserman@vancouverplays.com

-30-


STUPIDITY (LA ESTUPIDEZ)

By Rafael Spregelburd

Oct 11th to 21st, 2007 at STUDIO 16

Theatre Conspiracy presents the English-language premiere of STUPIDITY (LA ESTUPIDEZ) by Rafael Spregelburd. Translated and adapted by Crispin Whittell Crispin Whittell through National Theatre's (London) Channels Series.

Five of Vancouver's finest actors play 24 characters in Argentine playwright Rafael Spregelburd's fast-paced comedy set in The Desert Flamingo motel on the fringes of Vegas.

The play, one of a series of seven works inspired by Hieronymus Bosch's painting Wheel of the Deadly Sins has been produced in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Berlin, Madrid, Lisbon, Mexico City and soon in Paris.

Directed by Richard Wolfe. Featuring Allan Morgan, Johann Helf, Nicole Leroux, Alex Zahara and Naomi Wright. On stage at STUDIO 16 (1555 W. 7th Avenue at Granville in Vancouver), October 11-21, 2007.

***

Where

STUDIO 16 - 1555 W. 7th Ave (half block west of Granville) in Vancouver.

The South Granville neighbourhood offers excellent dining opportunities plus some of the West Coast's best art galleries, antiques and jewelry stores and a collection of the most exclusive furniture and lifestyle stores in the Lower Mainland. Recommended pre-show dining options include:

* Bin 942 at 1521 West Broadway
* Cactus Club at 1530 West Broadway
* Memphis Blues Barbeque House at 1465 West Broadway
* West at 2881 Granville Street

When

October 11-21, 2007 (only 11 shows!)

* Preview: Thursday Oct. 11 at 8pm (2-for-1 tickets, only $12)
* Opening: Friday Oct. 12 at 8pm
* Show times: Tuesday to Saturday at 8pm
* Matinees: Sunday Oct. 14, Saturday Oct. 20 and Sunday Oct. 21 at 2pm

Tickets

* Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketstonight.ca or call (604) 231-7535
* $24 for adults (+ service charges)
* $16 for students/seniors/all matinee performances (+ sc)
* $12 for preview on Thursday, Oct. 11, "2-for-1" tickets (+ sc)
* Group rates by arrangement; please leave a message at (604) 878-8668
* NOTE: No service charges will be applied to tickets purchased at the door.

Official Website:
http://conspiracy.ca/upcoming.php

Facebook Group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2372248480