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Speedo & The Straight Man by Gerard Karabin
presented at the FRIGID New York Festival Kraine Theater February-March 2008
Witnessing a performance of "Speedo & The Straight Man" is like witnessing a whirlwind of emotion and energy. The play, written by Gerard Karabin, focuses on a man's struggle with self-worth and self-identity...however it is so much more. The work is incredibly layered and complex, and with a message that although different to each and every audience member, is one that we all can relate to. The main character Jerry is a man trapped in his own isolation. His only friends are his alter ego, an imaginary mouse he calls Speedo, and his best friend, a transexual named Jo who he talks to on his cell phone. Jerry is just as caught in a trap as is Speedo. He is caught in between the two extremes, his transexual friend and his macho father. Everything in this production works beautifully, a pleasant surprise this being a festival. From the start, one is captivated by the set design by the director of the production Peter DuBo. It consists of a table, a chair, and seven full length mirrors suspended from the ceiling. The mirrors are dirty and discolored, as is the life of the central character. Once the play begins and progresses, you realize the main character Jerry is unable to relate to them directly, and that is because he cannot look at himslf in fear of what he may find. He says, to paraphrase, "I hate looking at myself... I avoid mirrors cause I'm afraid of what I may see. Who am I?" Only at the end of the play, and once he has embarked in confronting his reality can he face himself in the mirrors. The clever thing is that the mirrors are hung in a way that they slightly face the audience, forcing us all to look at ourselves. The character of Jerry is beautifully realized by actor Lucio Fernandez. Impressive is his energy and complete physical and emotional commitment to the work. He goes from playing Jerry, to Jerry's father, to a television game show host with masterful technique. Most effective is when he plays his father, a drunken, homophobic, abusive individual. However scenes where Fernandez plays Jerry as a child at a baseball game are tender and very moving. From the tragically comic moments to those of simple honesty, the audience was completely captivated in the emotional web expressed by Fernandez. His facial and physical disfigurations and contractions are note worthy. Only an actor of great technical proficiency and experience could have accomplished this most complex of characters. Peter DuBo's direction is innovative and well-crafted. He is also responsible for the set design as previously mentioned, and the sound design. The sound was supportive of the performance, but needed a little tweaking. "Speedo & The Straight Man" is a thrilling production with innovative direction and set design, accompanied by first-rate acting. This play is what live theatre is all about. |
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