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| Sarrasine (Lisa Burton) meets anthropologist Dr. Singer (Ronald Feichtmeir ) Photo by Lance Huntley |
Good
intentions don’t always make for good theater.
Case in
point: Dragon Theatre’s world premiere production of “Cirque Exotique du Monde”
by Peninsula playwright Kathy Boussina.
Inspired by
historical events, most of the action is set in the titular circus in Berlin in
1936. It’s hard-pressed for money and harassed by the Nazis.
Some
financial hope emerges with an eccentric anthropologist who wants to add two of
the performers to his creepy collection of oddities like preserved human
fetuses and brains.
Several
actors play several roles. Lisa Burton as Sarrasine, owner of the circus, and
Charles Monson as Hans the Giant are both fine. However, as directed by Lessa
Bouchard and Bora “Max” Koknar, the others overact in many scenes.
They and
their main roles are Ronald Feichtmeir as Dr. Singer, the anthropologist; Alix Josefski as Picnic, financial manager of
the circus; Alika U. Spencer-Koknar as performer Boshka; and Oscar Velarde as
Otto, a juggler.
Anna
Yanushkevich, who devised the rigging, has a non-speaking role as an aerialist
whose feats are seen twice. However, like much of the rest of the play, these
sequences go on too long. Cutting is needed throughout.
The
costumes, some of them ill-fitting, are by Kathleen Qui. The set, lighting and
props are by Nathanael Card with sound by Nick Solasteas.
Running about
two and a half hours with one intermission, “Cirque Exotique du Monde” will
continue through Oct. 8 at Dragon Theatre, 2120 Broadway St., Redwood City. For
tickets and information, call (650) 493-2006, Ext. 2, or visit www.dragonproductions.net.
