Saturday, June 28, 2014

Theatre Review: The Mother Ship - Sacred Fools Theater Company

The Mother Ship
Sacred Fools Theater Company
Written and Directed by Jonas Oppenheim
660 N Heliotrope
Los Angeles, CA 90004
310.281.8337
www.sacredfools.org
June 27 - August 4, 2014
Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm (excluding July 4)
Sundays 7/6, 13, and 20 at 7pm

What do you get when you slam the 1960's British sex farce genre into the mattress of science fiction while trying, desperately and unsuccessfully, to impregnate it? Obviously you get THE MOTHER SHIP by Jonas Oppenheim currently playing at Sacred Fools Theater Company.

This world-premier show takes on the taboo and altogether touchy subjects of marital strife and infertility in an extremely unique and hilarious way.

Trevor and Penelope are trying to get pregnant. Trevor's sister, Ilene, and her husband, Kirby, haven't seemed to have any problem with the process. In fact, they seem to be rather overly-proficient and procreation. Even Trevor's mother, the prickly Rose, has had substantial sexual success. Meanwhile Trevor and Penelope's sex life, and ability to bear children, are waning fast. Fortunately, an unlikely intergalactic, teleportation mix-up on the space vessel Infinium could turn the tables for everyone.

Bryan Bellomo, a Sacred Fools veteran, as Trevor takes on a hefty load of the show and carries it with much sweat, gusto, and deftness. Right alongside him is Aviva Pressman as Penelope. Much like Bellomo (and quite a lot of the cast, in fact) she sprints from scene to scene in not much more than her skivvies delivering gut punch after gut punch on the emotional roller coaster Penelope rides. Other shout-outs must be given to Scott Golden as Willy/Werner for his unflappability and lighting-fast improvisational reflexes, Carrie Keranen as Ilene/Doctor Ilsa for her incredible comedic timing and precision, Lynn Odell as the nymphomaniacal and stinging mother, Rose, and villainous Rrrxorkzyx, and Stephen Simon as Captain Pex who masterfully utilizes his sheer physical presence on stage for bit after hilarious bit.

I could not have asked for a more outrageous, hilarious, or enjoyable show to introduce me to the Sacred Fools Theater Company. After taking a ride on THE MOTHER SHIP, I'll be back for more.