louisville.com

louisville.com - December 16, 1998


Performing Arts
By Paul McDonald
The nightmare before Christmas


THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES
With Brian Curley, Robert Hardy, Paul Thompson,
Julianne Johnson, Jeromy Bagan, Judy Beam,
Andrew Pyle and Kristin Marksbury.
By Jeff Goode
Directed by Aaron Stover
Theatre Excalibur
"A 'cutting-edge' production."

There is no joy at the North Pole this year. Vixen has filed a sexual harassment suit against Santa, accusing him of rape and of being a persistent bestial pedophile. Rudolph, who apparently walked in on "Fat Boy" and Vixen during their alleged tryst, is a victim himself. He has gone into a catatonic funk and is now pacing around a padded stall muttering to himself. Donner is consumed with guilt that he ever let his son, Rudolph, guide the sleigh that night. Comet is a fundamentalist Bible thumper and Santa's last defender. Cupid is an openly gay alcoholic who loves to recount his sexual exploits and is probably longing for the days when bathhouses will reopen to admit reindeer. Blitzen is a radical feminist convinced the public is only interested in her vagina. Dasher is jealous of Rudolph's fame. Dancer wants to go back to the ballet. Hollywood (a.k.a. Prancer) is too busy talking to his agent to care about any of this.

Such is the stuff of "The Eight: Reindeer Monologues," the premiere production of Theatre Excalibur, Louisville's newest alternative community theater. Theatre Excalibur is the brainchild of Aaron Stover, who also competently directed the show. Stover recently founded the company to produce avant-garde, cutting-edge (hence the name "Excalibur") shows for the Louisville audience.

"The Eight" clearly sets the tone for the type of plays Stover wants to produce. It is funny, provocative and definitely adult. The script, outside of some of Cupid's tacky recollections, is hilarious and puts a different spin on the sentimental rhapsodies we endure this time of year. The acting is strong, and the Rudyard Kipling provides an intimate, workable setting.

The story builds around Vixen, coyly played by Kristin Marksbury, who causes a media sensation with a sexual harassment suit she brings against Santa. Offered a photo-spread by Playboy, she delights in the spotlight, but has to deal with the guilt of bringing about Santa's fall from grace and the end of Christmas.

Particularly good is the performance of Jeromy Bagan, who plays Comet, Santa's staunch defender full of hellfire and brimstone. It would be tempting for an actor to overplay this role, but Bagan realizes that less is more. He takes a disciplined approach and thereby communicates his character effectively.

This is an entertaining show, although I wouldn't recommend it for children. Leave the kids at home, come to the Rud and enjoy yourself. "The Eight: Reindeer Monologues" has performances on Dec. 17, 18 and 21 at 7:30pm and Dec. 19 at 7pm. Tickets are $8. Call 636-1311 for more details.