An alternative to the typical holiday fare exists once again at the Kranzberg this year under the auspices of HotCity Theatre's Greenhouse Series and the SIUE Department of Theater and Dance, which offers up an unusual and entertaining look at the way human beings interact, and the psychology behind their actions and reactions, all filtered through the prism of the Stanley Kramer (best known for more socially conscious fare like The Defiant Ones) film It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. Or, something to that effect. All I know is I was totally engrossed and involved in the things taking place on stage during Whammy! The Seven Secrets to a Sane Self (and the images and quotes projected behind it), and it certainly helped that I listen to a lot of the music that was utilized for the show.
The cast consists of the Quimbies, splendidly played by: Maggie Conroy, Greg Fenner, Kate Frisina, Chuck Harper and Julie Venegoni. Jeff Skoblow plays a mysterious psychiatrist (or something of that ilk) named Dr. G.
Now, what exactly happens on stage is unusual and experimental, fulls of interesting monologues, a tap dance routine, chairs hanging from the ceiling, and an assortment of peculiar backdrops and quotes that purport to illuminate. Mikey Butane is responsible for the doodles and dances, while Chuck Harper provides the direction and conception of this piece, accounting as well for the fine selection of tunes and bits of text that appear. The scenic design of Lex van Blommestein, or “Whammy World”, is like Marcy Wiegert's costuming, starkly white for the most part. Maggie Conroy adds to the “Whammy Flow”, although I'm not quite sure what that means exactly. Perhaps, it has to do with the speeches that get delivered, which detail out the problems of, or in one case, the various prescriptions taken daily by one of the characters.
There's nothing standard about this production, and that appeals to me since I don't always want my theatrical experiences quite as cut and dried as they typically are. Whammy! is truly unique and highly recommended. I especially love the tributes to the “31 Flavors” scene from the movie, which features some eccentric dancing and wild exclamations by beloved and late cult actor Dick Shawn. This presentation which is subtitled: The Seven Secrets to a Sane Self (or Some Things That All People Ought to Know About the Nature and Function of the Self; Its Proper Place in the Economy of Life; Its Proper Training and Its Righteous Exercise), continues at the Kranzberg through December 10, 2011. See it and be bedazzled while having your thoughts provoked!
