|
|||
|
Disclaimer:
The reviewers' opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of TheatreLouisville.org. |
Peer Reviews Dirty Sexy Fun
What could be sexier than a play about an erotic party on Kentucky Derby Day, complete with necessary foreplay, prickling tension, revenge, a hot climax and even some cuddling? Oh, yes, yes, yes! Finnigan's original production of dirty sexy derby play by Brian Walker is a raunchy, hysterical and orgasmic blowout comedy about Vanessa Kinsey (Leah Roberts) and her quest to throw the ultimate Derby party while simultaneously seeking revenge against her husband, Carl (Andy Pyle). The guests at her couples-only party include Lana and Tim Bridges (Kelly Kapp and Paul Reynolds), who have recently lost their home to a tornado and are invited to the party out of Vanessa's kindhearted attempt to give them some escape; Francine and Victor Albee (Delilah Smyth and Shaun Kenney) who have an extremely malfunctioning marriage for a number of reasons revealed in the play; and finally, Carl's ignorant county bumpkin cousin Dennis Kinsey (Brian Walker) and his charmingly naïve wife Theresa (Sarah East).
On this 1974 Derby Day, Vanessa throws a "key party" — meaning only couples are invited to keep the numbers even, and the men are to drop their car keys into a bowl upon arrival. A series of dirty games are played (by instruction of a book Vanessa bought in the Highlands) and at the end of the night, the ladies each draw a set of keys from the bowl, which determines with whom they're going home that night. Vanessa has plotted this night carefully, in order to instigate the right confrontations between the right people, divulging many of the other characters' secrets and ultimately to revenge against Carl for cheating on her with Francine. This play oozes with superb comedic timing, obstacles and bizarre tactics used by the characters to get what they want, and each of them desires something. While each of the characters holds a bit of a stereotype on the surface, the plot carefully develops each of them into individuals that the audience can come to know and understand. Each character has a secret, clear strength and clear flaws. No character is static or the "control experiment." These are people anyone could be stuck in an elevator with or be related to. I think the overall performance benefited from taking place in the MeX — it was so intimate, the audience was right there with the actors as if we ourselves were guests at this outrageous party. The play includes many references to Louisville, my personal favorite being, "They sell everything in the Highlands." It presents a realistic mix of characters, reflecting Louisville's classic north-south dichotomy. Oh, and I wasn't kidding about the foreplay part — the play opens on Carl and Vanessa engaging in some, well, party pre-gaming, and I don't just mean the first round of Mint Juleps. This play isn't recommended for the immature or even immature-minded audience. There is a lot of profanity and sex, but a mature playgoer can easily take it in and give it a laugh while not letting it distract him/her from the overall development of the plot and characters, which I thought was very well done. This play is absolutely fun while maintaining depth, obstacle, consequence, wit and something that the audience can take home — no pun intended.
dirty
sexy derby play Posted Sept. 9, 2008
|
||
