Raleigh Little Theatre Preview
By Robert W McDowell, Triangle Theatre Review
February 8, 2008
“Epic Proportions” is a hilarious spoof of 1930s Hollywood biblical epics
Raleigh Little Theatre will present Epic Proportions, a cockeyed comedy by Larry Coen and David Crane in which brothers Benny and Phil Bennet journey to the Arizona desert in the 1930s to perform as extras in the spectacular Hollywood Biblical epic EXEUNT OMNES, directed by that mysterious recluse D.W. DeWitt, on Feb. 8-10, 14-17, and 21-24 in its Cantey V. Sutton Theatre. Actors Comedy Lab co-founder Rod Rich will direct an all-star cast that includes Izzy Burger as Louise Goldman; Jason Matthews as Benny Bennet; David McClutchey as Phil Bennet; Rose Martin as the Queen, etc.; Jack Hall as D.W. DeWitt; and Tony Hefner, Warren Keyes, and Jon Karnofsky as Conspirators, etc.
“Actors Comedy Lab looked at this play years ago,” recalls RLT guest director Rod Rich. “It seemed funny, but the technical challenges made it impractical for a small company like ours to tackle it, so we shelved it and moved on. I remember thinking, though, that it would be perfect for RLT to do, so when [Raleigh Little Theatre artistic director] Haskell [Fitz-Simons] called and offered me the gig, I wuz ready.”
He adds, “I love a challenge -- and this play is a potential bee-yatch! So, see challenges.”
Manhattan Punch Line’s Off-Broadway production of Epic Proportions played for 24 performances at the Judith Anderson Theatre in 1986. Then the show made its belated Broadway debut on Sept. 7, 1999 at the Helen Hayes Theatre, where it played for 93 performances before closing on Dec. 19, 1999. A motion-picture version of Epic Proportions, directed by John Landis from a screenplay by Todd Berger, is currently “in production,” according to Internet Movie Database.
RLT guest director Rod Rich says, “Epic Proportions is the story of a hopeful dreamer with the knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The time is 1934, and the place is Molten Rock, Arizona, a name which apparently exists only to grace a barren spot of desert hundreds of miles from the nearest habitation. The man is Benny (Jason Matthews), one of thousands of extras in the über-epic costume drama EXEUNT OMNES, directed by the reclusive and -- odd -- director, D.W. Dewitt (Jack Hall).”
He adds, “Benny dreams of stardom, and dreams of Louise (Izzy Burger), the beautiful assistant director in charge of extras. When Benny’s brother Phil (David McClutchey) comes to take him home, Benny talks him into joining the movie with him as a fellow extra.
“Unhappily for Benny,” says Rich, “Phil’s luck is as good as Benny’s is bad -- Phil experiences a meteoric rise through the company, first coming to Louise’s attention, then proceeding up the ranks. Benny, on the other hand, is assigned to the group of extras charged with the worst and most unpleasant jobs, and has to watch as Phil and Louise pair up, while he’s left to suffer with the rest of the cast of thousands -- all played in glorious quick-change by Rose Martin, Jon Karnofsky, Warren Keyes, and Tony Hefner.”
In addition to director Rod Rich, the show’s creative team includes technical director Jim Zervas, set designer Rick Young, lighting designer Jim Zervas, costume designer Vicki Olson, properties mistress Robin Hughes, sound designer Rowell Gormon, and stage manager Bunny Safron.
Rod Rich says, “The set is two pieces that revolve around a central pivot, capable of representing several looks. That, in combination with a series of wagons and flies, helps us to quickly create 20 different scenes in the mere space of 70 minutes. Thanks to Del Flack and Sandy Sullivan, the set zips from position to position, while our backstage crew flicks flies in and out, and makes a difficult show run seamlessly.”
The lighting, Rich says, consists of “Um, big metal boxes with glowy things inside ‘em that illuminate stuff on the stage.”
There are also “Tons of costumes,” adds Rich, “that have to flick on and off actors at speeds that rival GREATER TUNA. The amazing thing is that, for the most part, you won’t notice the changes -- an Egyptian guard simply exits, and 10 seconds later a nattily attired 1930s crew person enters. There are teams of dressers -- more dressers, in fact, than there are cast members -- working diligently to keep all this complexity hidden, and the audience only sees 20 characters created out of eight actors. I cannot overemphasize how important these incredibly creative, diligent, patient, and hardworking people are to our production!”
Director Rod Rich claims, “Epic Proportions is pure comedy. Visual gags, vaudeville humor, slapstick -- it’s every technically difficult gag you can cram into a show, requiring timing, grace, acting, and out-and-out skill. On top of that, it requires a quicksilver set that can represent everything you might see in an epic movie, and lightning-fast costume changes requiring teams (literally -- teams) of skilled dressers offstage. (Offstage left, if you’re wondering.)
“It’s a soap bubble of a show,” claims Rich, “all bubbling comedy, fragile, and precious -- and incredibly difficult. How could I resist [the opportunity to direct it]?”
For those allergic to cigarette smoke and/or salty language, Rod Rich warns, “There are lit cigarettes on stage, although they don’t stay lit for long. There’s some lightly adult language, and that’s about it.”
The critically acclaimed veteran director adds, “The only other thing I haven’t discussed as much is our cast. Comedy like this is not easy to do, and I’ve been incredibly fortunate in finding such a talented and dedicated group of actors. I’m more than pleased with the work they’re doing: I’m ecstatic. Will audiences be as receptive to their work as I’ve been? Here’s hoping!”
Raleigh Little Theatre presents Epic Proportions Friday-Saturday, Feb. 8-9, at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 10, at 3 p.m.; in RLT’s Cantey V. Sutton Theatre, 301 Pogue St., Raleigh, North Carolina. $18 ($15 students up to and including college and seniors 62+), except all seats $10 on Feb. 10th. 919/821-3111 or etix.com. NOTE: Arts Access, Inc. of Raleigh, NC (http://www.artsaccessinc.org/) will audio-describe the 3 p.m. Feb. 10th performance. RALEIGH LITTLE THEATRE: http://raleighlittletheatre.org/performances/07-08/epicproportions.html. INTERNET BROADWAY DATABASE: http://www.ibdb.com/show.asp?ID=3355. INTERNET MOVIE DATABASE: http://imdb.com/title/tt0959302/.
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