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Dark comedy is taken to heart
(by Herb Hammer - March 25, 2010)
THEATER, BY HERB HAMMER
Dark comedy is taken to heart
Stephen Karam appears to be a bit young to write a highly successful play. He was only 27 when his "Speech & Debate" opened at New York's Roundabout Theater in 2007. The play received rave reviews. Mr. Karam may be young, but he is smart, smart enough to write about young people and what they are thinking and doing.
The playwright introduces us to three nerdy misfits and, it would seem, allows them to do their own thing, so to speak.
"Speech & Debate" is at Dobama Theatre, the fourth and the best at their new digs on Lee Road.
We meet Howie, Solomon and Diwata. Why "Diwata"? These out-of-touch teenagers each have their own acts to grind until they get together and form the team.
Solomon, a reporter on the school's newspaper, is about to expose his drama theater for preying on young male students. But you don't print this sort of thing in a school newspaper, no matter how determined you are.
Then there's Howie, an openly gay student who pretty much wants to be left alone.
But it's Diwata, a frumpy, no-talent wannabe singer, actress and dancer who would like to fit in, and in the case of Shelby Bartelstein, steal the show.
Diwata organizes a speech and debate team. At the first meeting, Solomon is her only team member until Diwata talks Howie into coming aboard.
It's no secret why the school is placed in Salem, Ore. It's Salem that leads Diwata to put on a show starring herself as Mary Warren, of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," with Howie as Abe Lincoln.
Mr. Karam deliberately strays off course. His dark comedy is preparing us for some extremely intense moments.
When all truths are suddenly revealed, Solomon violently throws up in the wastebasket. With more revelations to follow, our trio becomes forever entwined.
This is all followed by an astonishing and equally hilarious dance number that could have you gasping for breath.
The plot has more twists and turns than are necessary, and the one-hour and 45-minute, one-act playing time is bound to create a few slow spots.
Nevertheless, young Mr. Karam has pure entertainment in mind with a little bit to say about teenagers adrift.
Shelby Bartelstein has surely caught on to what Diwata is all about, and though we sympathize with Diwata, Miss Bartelstein turns her into a hilarious caricature of life as a left-out teen.
As Solomon, Nicholas Varricchio is a high-intensity teenager with much of his life to hide. It's when Solomon loosens up after his revelations that Mr. Varricchio brings his character to life.
Nick Pankuch either lacks much-needed energy as Howie or was directed that way. Though he is quite good, he could have been much better.
The set is made up of a scattered school room with square pods circling the outside, where our actors sit when they are not together. A large screen with computer projections and announcements of each scene does little.
Director Scott Plate has taken "Speech & Debate" to heart and squeezes out all the emotion and humor the play has to offer.
Look, listen and enjoy. This one will carry you away.
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