The show is but a thirty minute PATH train commute on a Saturday from my Grove St. stop in Jersey City (the glamorous part of New Jersey). Iced coffee in hand, I descended to the steamy platform to await the 33rd Street train for a thankfully brief five minutes. Pavonia Newport and Hoboken are the quick Jersey stops before Christopher St, 9th Ave, then my destination 14th Street.
A familiar face is always welcomed and worth removing ones headphones especially for an old friend James Rado. Lovingly known to many as "Jim", he is a Hoboken resident, the co-creator and original cast member of the mutli-generational bastion of Broadway musicals, "Hair", and the director who gave me a chance to live two seasons of my life in a singer/actor's dream with its European Touring production.
He politely declined as I offered my seat, yet I gently insisted until he graciously acquiesced with a smile. "I always enjoy running into you on the train Jim!" I say this every time we've run into each other on the train and I mean it. I also asked what was keeping him busy, equally sharing goings on of my theatrical and creative ventures. Not only am I happy to report that Jim is doing well, keeping busy with a new workshop, but I also have to note that I subscribe to his ever creating, developing, and workshopping work ethic. We discussed how a director gets the desired performance from an actor, which led to Jim's poignant question "Where does the freedom of the actor lie?"
I enjoy Jim's organic style of direction. My best recollection reveals somewhat of a democratic dance between leading and following, listening to the actor, guiding him/her towards a naturally successful trajectory based on a healthy brew of actor's instincts and Jim's vision. This short ride to Manhattan clearly didn't give enough time for an intelligible answer, unless Jim was about to ring a buzzer, revealing that I was the subject of his new reality show "Actors on a Train" (Hey why not if you can have "Snakes on A Plane"...). Salutatory greetings were also in order with 14th Street coming up so I offered mine ~ "Jim, this is a great question! It's great to see you man! May I respond thru my blog? " He nodded elegantly as a blessing I suppose, gave a firm handshake, and offered a similar parting cheer.
A gentle rain on Manhattan's streets welcomed me back to the "Prom" after last week's groovy San Francisco trip (see previous blogs). Webster Hall was my dry destination, and once reached, I shook my umbrella like a dog fluffs itself after a bath. What I didn't shake off was Jim's question, and it seemed fitting to source the answer as I enter the halls of Wanaget High as Feung Schwey, the Asian Exchange student of the long running Off Broadway show "Awesome 80s Prom".
Feung Schwey's name is a play on the term feng shui - the ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to use the laws of both Heaven (Chinese astrology - possibly mislabeled as "astronomy" on Wikipedia) and Earth to help one improve life by receiving the positive. And receive the positive I must, given that one must never say no in improv. Take, for instance, the unsuspecting audience member, sporting an 80s headband. He is a tasty morsel for our cast's well honed improv-predatory instincts, which are constantly called upon by our supportive and fearless leader, Prom creator/director, and theatrical marketing genius Ken Davenport. Ken's observation of my lack of fear, later reiterated as an encouraging and complimentary note, was my green light. It was my license to continue the fearless involvement of surprised theatre goers who otherwise would've enjoyed a passive evening in their seats.
So with a full tank of improvisational petrol, Feung Schwey arrives at the prom literally coming around the block with schoolmates Louis Fensterspock on his bike (played to nebbish heights by Daryl Embry) and spasmodic Kerrie Kowalski (introspectively waxed last evening by Ashley Campana, and on a regular basis by the engaging Melissa Diaz). All would catapult onto the scene nearby our headband wearing audience member as Feung would pounce on this theatrical prey and be transfixed on the gentleman's similar accessory. All this while visually demonstrating how their common headband garment theatrically transforms an otherwise powerless exchange student into the Karate Kid, Olivia Newton-John amidst a "Physical" workout, Jennifer Beals mid-pirouette and "flashdancing", or not - when said garment is devilishly re-purposed as a mere blindfold by the abrasive bad boy rebel Fender (lovingly played by Brandon Marotta). Suddenly, Feung's less compromising, nerdier position becomes a golden opportunity seized by Principal Snelgrove (handsomely played by Dr. Thomas Poarch) as if stealing a base with more focused determination than the recently traded Astros-to-Braves Michael Bourn. Our innocent bystander is surely not to be spared from the principal's spray of insults, soon to silence our guest's nerdalicious laughter. Insult is added to injury as nubile cheerleaders parade by like the Supremes led by Whitley Whitaker (expertly played last evening by the visually arresting Kate Riley, and on a regular basis by the equally appetizing Jessica West Regan) towing along her Greek chorus of identically named Heathers (intelligently played by the blonde beauties Jennifer Peters and Megan Gerlach). These sirens appropriately sneer at the now tentative participant while en route to their perch of popularity from the dance floor, to the stage, and then to the occupied couch where they shriek away beer filled audience members. Their male counterparts, the Football Jock & Player, are the Laurel & Hardy-esque duo (played by Chris Cafero & Michael Barra) offering a similarly guttural response to the unfortunate audience member's plight.
Should the unnamed audience member find himself tapping into scars of adolescence, the more sympathetic characters of Wanaget High are sure to detect this improvisational opportunity just as dogs smell fear and provide some relief. Salvation could be an embrace from the heavenly milkmaid in blue named Inga Swanson, the Swedish exchange student (effortlessly exuded by the perennially radiant Lindsay Ryan). Inga's enthusiasm compliments her accidentally sensual vocabulary, being the busty Bonnie to Feung's Clyde and together they machine gun the audience with an ammunition of mismatched vocabulary.
There's nothing mismatched about a chic 80s ensemble showcased by Dickie Harrington (played by the enigmatic Wade Dooley) as the vocaliste /drama queen of Wanaget High. Once our embarrassed patron moves past Dickie's narcissistic hunger for fame, he's sure to be offered a welcoming embrace, or a martini if successfully undetected by Principal Snelgrove or his female counterpart, the drama educator Mrs. Loscalzo (expertly played by Andrea Briggs). Mrs. L takes her job seriously, patrolling the dance floor armed with a stiff wooden ruler to illustrate at least ten inches of distance required between those dancing closely as they come of age. Soon to orbit our unsuspecting 80s dude are are the freshmen brother and sister duo of Lloyd and Molly (dynamically portrayed last evening by Zach Sciranka and Pamela Macy). On the other end of the spectrum are the politically mature & aristocratic pair Michael Jay (diplomatically played by Alex Fast last evening, and on a regular basis by the equally dignified and deliciously industrious Craig Jorczak) & Missy Martin (honorably established by the gracious Lauren Schafler). Both are sure to advise our Prom goer to cross his T's, dot his I's, and much to their Republican chagrin, democratically cast his vote for Prom King & Queen. Let's not forget these moments are puppeteered by our ring leader, Wanaget High's alum and resident "Barnum" known as DJ Johnny Hughes (orchestrated by Craig Jorczak last eve, and on a regular basis by poetical Dillon Porter whose wit unfailingly receives a speeding ticket).
As Feung Schwey, I ironically found my freedom within the confines of my character's seemingly stereotypical facade unmasked by music, and within the willingness of cast mates and participatory audience members to play in this field of improvisational dreams. Pinball wizard or not, audience and actor alike will hopefully feel like a steel ball plunged into a gigantic pinball machine, kinetically bounced between a host of stimulating personalities, suggestive lighting and memory evoking music of the 80s.
As one who looks fondly on memories from the 80s while accurately replicating the running man, Roger Rabbit, and the Reebok to the surprise and cheering delight of my weekly audience - staying alive after Saturday night's fevered dancing in the Awesome 80s Prom is definitely not for the faint hearted. It's for all of us who wish to revisit a carefree and colorful era, for those who actively participate in our sense of humor, and for those of us willing to jump into the unknown to find creative freedom.
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