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Valhalla by Diversionary Theatre Diversionary Theatre opened their 20th anniversary year with the West Coast premiere of Valhalla – Paul Rudnick’s hilarious debate about the meaning of beauty. With a quick and clever wit, Rudnick stuffs his script with one zinger after another in rapid fire, the cast delivering the lines with terrific comedic skill, the audience rolling throughout most of the show beginning with Marie Antoinette’s warning to turn off their cell phones if you don’t want to end up like she did… The story that follows traverses time by weaving together two parallel stories like one would weave a lovely lace doily. On one side of the doily is the real-life nineteenth-century Prince Ludwig – a Bavarian prince who is far more interested in fashion and finding true beauty than he is in the mundane activity of ruling a country. On the other side is a gay blue-collar delinquent son of a hardware store in small-town, 1940s Texas named James Avery who, despite his ugly surroundings and upbringing, also has an eye for true beauty. Their vastly different backgrounds and quests for beauty are intertwined throughout. Prince Ludwig is played with innocent, boyish enthusiasm by Andy Collins as he laments his love that cannot be with a swan and searches valiantly for beauty in his Prince Valiant wig, easily bothered and upset by things that are not beautiful. Angelino D’Agostino turns in an impressive performance as the edgy and tough Texas gay guy James looking with lawless abandon beyond the ugliness of his surroundings for true beauty. Helping and hindering them on their quests is a couple of hilarious women. Laura Bozanich is a total riot as the mother of both James Avery in Texas and Ludwig in Bavaria, and as such delivers many of the best lines in the show with her flawless timing and perfect personality and expressions. Lisel Gorell Getz uses her eyes, personality, and charm with three main personas – a vision of Marie Antoinette who sagely advises Ludwig in a dream, the lovely and vain Sally Mortimer hopelessly in love with gay bad boy James Avery who argues that “inner beauty is tricky because you can’t prove it,” and a nineteenth-century hunchback who unwittingly teaches Prince Ludwig about true beauty and inspires him to create gorgeous, fairy tale castles that resemble “what nature would look like if God was gay” (while also managing to inspire a host of hunchback humor!). Rudnick’s play is a Texas-sized comedy if a bit iffy and convoluted on plot. Director Tim Irving returned to Diversionary after a couple years absence, and put up a comic gem with his singular style, vision, and knack for over-the-top melodrama packing about as many throw-your-head-back laughs as you’ll likely encounter this year.Performs through October 2, 2005.
Rob Hopper ~ Cast ~
Henry Lee Stafford/Helmut/Opera Singer: Andrew Kennedy Margaret Avery/Queen Marie/Princess Enid/Natalie Kippelbaum: Laura Bozanich James Avery: Angelo D'Agostino King Ludwig of Bavaria: Andy Collins Sally Mortimer/Princess Sophie/Princess Patricia/Marie Antoinette/Annie Avery: Lisel Gorell Getz Everyone Else: Zachary Mikles Director: Tim Irving Scenic Design: David Weiner Lighting Design: Mia Bane Jacobs Costume Design: Shulamit Nelson Sound Design and Original Music: Mark Bennett Prop Design: Tim Irving |
