Four Easy Pieces

by David Guaspari

Review by Paul Hansom

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Four Easy Pieces, by David Guaspari. Multiple directors. With Clayton Dubin, Alek Osinski, Lisa Villamil, Paige Anderson, Michael Donato, Leo Stellwag, Melanie Uhlir, and Kirsten Sad.

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This is a fun and frolicsome portmanteau, that brings together three short sketches and a longer monologue. Taken together, each piece not only explores some downright funky scenarios, but does so in a smart, funny, and surreal fashion. While Guaspari clearly enjoys the potential of the absurd to entertain, he also has a tendency to pepper his work with profound insights and word-play to boot. They’re not so easy pieces.

 

Rat-Tat-Tat takes us into the existential predicament of some lab rats. Forced to run the maze for cheese, this wily gang tries to figure out why they turn left one day, right the next, who is in charge, why they get cheese, why they receive electric shocks. And who wields the big rubber hand? While each rat fulfills their own desires and predilections, the philosopher rodent (Osinski), ponders the very meaning of their rat life. Heavy stuff.

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Roger and Juliet is a surprise meeting of soul mates on an office block window ledge. Roger (Donato), an embezzling accountant is there ostensibly to jump, but is surprised, and captivated, by Juliet (a sweet Anderson), a goofy ex-stewardess who seems to be in love with thin air. Donato lends a rock solid, and touching performance as Roger the mensch, who initially denies his lightness, but who comes to accept it.

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Speed Mating concerns the secret love life of those bugs beneath the stones. Once they hatch, these males and females have only one hour to live, and each insect must figure out their life purpose, find a mate, procreate, and pass on. Needless to say, given this witty take on contemporary dating practice, they don’t necessarily see compound eye to eye. Chick (a compelling Dubin), the alpha bug has no problem pulling Patti (the cute Villamil), while the geeky Sam (Stellwag) must find a way with the discerning Frances (Uhlir). Will they find their ways?

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Guaspari’s capstone piece New And Selected, is an extended monologue by, and about, the poet Melanie Palomar. This is a funny and ultimately moving portrait of a frustrated, sinking poet, and for all those who have experienced the self-indulgence of such readings, Guaspari’s captures the moment brilliantly. Kristen Sad turns in a marvelous performance, capturing the absurdity, desperation, and sometimes heart-breaking commitment of the lonely poet. While she exhorts truly bad poetry, we see that she is a woman with a passion, who has lived, loved, and continues to lose. Go and have a guilty giggle.