The New Bozena
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A Falstaff Presents, Michael Winter and Rachel Colbert presentation of a play in one act by David Costabile, Michael Dahlen and Kevin Isola. Director, Rainn Wilson.
Cast: David Costabile (Ramn), Michael Dahlen (Spiv Westenberg), Kevin Isola (Revhanavaan Sahaanahanadaan). Theres cha-cha music playing as the audience settles in at the Cherry Lane Theater to see The New Bozena, including a one-two, one-two-three version of that old piano favorite Heart and Soul. Its a silly little thing, but in retrospect a clear sign of the giddy lunacy that is about to be set loose. The New Bozena, which serves as both title of the show and name of the company of actors, is primarily physical comedy made for hip grown-ups. The themes are traditional: the challenge of dealing with the material world, the sense of uncertainty about what is the right way to behave, and the terror at knowing you are in way over your head. The slapstick routines and the characters draw from classic comedy. But despite the familiarity of the parts, the New Bozena has woven them together with a craftsmanship that reveals a fresh sensibility put across with tremendous verve. The work is impressive, too, for its almost complete lack of meanness.
Except for a brief bit of verbal abuse aimed at the timid character Ramn by an offstage voice, the show is remarkably good-natured. It would probably make for a good family outing for progressive baby boomers and their kids. This does not mean the show lacks edge. This trio of clowns takes the stage boldly and holds the eye, both in the ensemble business that makes up most of the show and in the couple of solo turns each clown takes. The clown characters include the timid Ramn; Spiv Westenberg, a natural-born leader of men, or at least other clowns; and Revhanavaan Sahaanahanadaan, for whom the whole world is something to be tasted. The three rise together, share a breakfast of green Jell-O sandwiches, then dress and go off to their respective jobs. They work, come home , then go to audition at their community theater for parts in an upcoming production of the great Albanian play Winter Is the Coldest Season to be performed in the original Albanian. For much of the show, the three clowns make a number of sounds but utter hardly a word. (There is another, ongoing play-without-the-play that is presented soap opera-like in episodes that precede , interrupt, and follow the clown show, and which is very verbal.) So it is a bit strange at first when they get around to speaking, but they quickly prove that they can talk the talk as well as walk the walk. David Costabile, Michael Dahlen and Kevin Isola individually give fine performances and together form a superb team. Rainn Wilson makes an impressive directorial debut, making sure all the Jell-O lands where its supposed to. Melissa Toths costumes, for the clown play and the soap opera, are a show unto themselves; and Chris Myller and Adam Silverman catch the evenings mood perfectly in their respective set and lighting designs. The background music, coordinated by Ray Bokhour, is one of the shows subtler delights.Cast: David Costabile (Ramn), Michael Dahlen (Spiv Westenberg), Kevin Isola (Revhanavaan Sahaanahanadaan). Theres cha-cha music playing as the audience settles in at the Cherry Lane Theater to see The New Bozena, including a one-two, one-two-three version of that old piano favorite Heart and Soul. Its a silly little thing, but in retrospect a clear sign of the giddy lunacy that is about to be set loose. The New Bozena, which serves as both title of the show and name of the company of actors, is primarily physical comedy made for hip grown-ups. The themes are traditional: the challenge of dealing with the material world, the sense of uncertainty about what is the right way to behave, and the terror at knowing you are in way over your head. The slapstick routines and the characters draw from classic comedy. But despite the familiarity of the parts, the New Bozena has woven them together with a craftsmanship that reveals a fresh sensibility put across with tremendous verve. The work is impressive, too, for its almost complete lack of meanness.
Set, Chris Myller; costumes, Melissa Toth; lighting, Adam Silverman; sound, Andrew S. Keister; music coordinator, Ray Bokhour; production stage manager, J. Philip Bassett; associate producer, Taylor Reinhart. Opened Oct. 31, 1996, at the Cherry Lane Theater. Reviewed Oct. 29; 180 seats; $ 27.50 top. Running time: 1 HOUR, 30 MIN.
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