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| Kidnapped by Craigslist |
| Written by Ryan E. Johnson | |
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Bizarre world takes center stage in this Austin-centric play. Buried in the heart of East Austin, surrounded by a sea of discarded refuse and well-hidden behind a Goodwill auction house, The Blue Theater can be a difficult, and at times frightening, venue to locate. But once you step through its doors and partake in Shrewd Productions’ latest project, you’ll find it well worth the trouble. Running through July 26, Katie Goan’s acclaimed Kidnapped by Craigslist is an irreverent, shocking, but always hilarious satire that gets its source material direct from actual Craigslist postings. The play very well could be offensive—but most in the audience are too busy laughing off their chairs to notice. The play begins as six wanderers come upon a strange carnivalesque atmosphere, in which a man promises them all their wishes, hopes and dreams. It’s evident this magical world is a metaphor for the all-inclusive, real-world Craigslist. Soon, the seven actors begin acting out a variety of Craigslist tidbits, ranging from love postings in the Love Tunnel, to things for sale in the Auction House, to flat-out bizarre entries in the Fun House. With each new “attraction,” or category, we find a treasure trove of new surprises and a seemingly never-ending source of humor. Photo: Tate English Andrew Varenhorst plays the man behind the curtain, the ringmaster pulling all the strings as he lures the six adventurers through the strange and magical world. And he pulls it off with a bizarre charm reminiscent of actor Cillian Murphy (the Scarecrow in Batman Begins). The rest of the cast (Lynn Burnor, Bryan Schneider, Brock England, Nitra Gutierrez, Chris Humphrey, and Pierce Purselley) gives hilarious performances, as each actor shines in their turns at center stage to wow us. The humor in the play ranges from crude body humor, to situational humor akin to the work of Woody Allen; from musical numbers about sexual perversions, to dancing routines about confections; and even delves into some darker territory in the Secret Well, where the humor is finally broken for a moment of intense heartbreaking sadness. The sadness doesn’t last long, however, and for the most part the humor stays hitting on all cylinders, and you’ll be sure to leave the play in stitches. This play is not suggested for children, considering it features sexual themes, the aforementioned body humor, and plenty of foul language. The material may even be very offensive to some adults. As a general guide: if you have a carte blanche distaste or discomfort with any mention of sex, drug use, or homosexuality, this is not the play for you. But if you’re looking lively humor and don’t mind some crude, crass content, then this could just be the funniest play you’ll see this year. Kidnapped by Craigslist runs Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through July 26 at the Blue Theater on Springdale Road. Tickets are $12-$25. Use this handy-dandy link for more info and ticket reservations. |
