By Amy Van Veen (The Cascade) – Email
Kaputnik
By Frank Semerano
Directed by Eli Funk (UFV)
Running time: 60 minutes
Showings: Friday 9 p.m. and Sunday 5:15 p.m
Memorable lines: “I guess when I saw Jupiter, Saturn and Mars, I didn’t plan it.”
“I hardly think the Greeks would give the name Virgin to a wanton hussy with three nipples.”
Upon sitting down in my seat, the title of the play and the collection of 1960s-era equipment already put me in the mood for the space race. That combined with the three trench coat and fedora-clad photographers disobeying the reminder not to use camera devices in the theatre put out an unmistakable vibe that did not dissipate as the show went on.
As with any Sputnik-centred escapades for two brainy and socially inept scientists searching for the mystery behind the light that gave the constellation Virgo a third nipple, the inclusion of Russian and American espionage cloaks the plot in enjoyable twist after twist while giving the audience sufficient material for laugh out loud responses.
Granted, I found the raucous laughter at some of the roll-your-eyes puns and wink-wink-nudge-nudge sexual innuendo to be perhaps unnecessary considering the self-aware tone of the dialogue, but the preview show with an audience of theatre students is bound to light up with strong reactions.
The play itself captured my attention with strong characterization, smart dialogue and, impressively, not a lull or a mistimed moment. Even when the prop handcuffs failed the actors, they successfully improvised their way through the potentially awkward situation and got plenty of laughs in return.
