&  Miscellany

review by Robert Kent

Summer brings out the kid in everyone. So, it comes as no surprise that three new family-friendly productions have recently opened. ...The latest -- and best of the trio -- is Chris Weikel's marvelous storybook adventure, Tales Told.

Produced by TOSOS II, a troupe whose last production was Doric Wilson's Street Theater (a play about Stonewall), Tales Told holds many pleasant surprises. An extraordinary six-person ensemble imaginatively re-enacts two sassy bedtime stories. Richly directed by Mark Finley, both anecdotes will appeal equally to adults and precocious children.

Weikel's first 'Tale' is Gareth and Lynette. Loosely based on a poem by Lord Alfred Tennyson, the story is set during the golden age of chivalry when brave knights routinely rescued fair maidens from fierce dragons. Immediately, we meet Gareth (the charismatic Matt Rashid). Assigned to cooking and cleaning rather than dragon slaying, Gareth is an unlikely hero who dreams of joining his uncle, King Arthur, at the Roundtable. Meanwhile, somewhere in the kingdom, a damsel—the unrefined Lynette (played perfectly by Casey Weaver)—witnesses three evil men kidnap her flaxen-haired sister and quickly requires the assistant of a knight in shining armor. Is Gareth the right man for the job? Or does Lynette wear the pants in the kingdom?

In Penny Penniworth, the second 'Tale,' Weikel adapts a ''story of great good fortune'' from Charles Dickens. The sprightly Jamie Heinlein leads a flawless four-person cast as the tantalizing title character, a young woman whose dire financial situation forces her to care for an eccentric widow, Miss Havasnort (Ellen Reilly). Several men, including a poor blacksmith (the amazingly versatile Christopher Berg), a pompous aristocrat (Igor Goldin) and mysterious benefactor, woo Penny. But ultimately, the waif must make decisions about her future based on the fact that she is ''only a woman'' in patriarchal England, circa early 1800s.

Performed at a rapid pace, Penny Penniworth challenges its actors to play multiple characters—sometimes simultaneously. Refreshingly, the actors are up to the task. Each performer effortlessly portrays a variety of odd Londoners (many with silly names or odd speech patterns), from a troll-like messenger and sniveling, overprotective mother to a stodgy old man who runs an accounting firm.

Playing through July 2 at the West End Theater on West 86th Street, Tales Told offers a delightful take on age-old stories. Part Into the Woods (without music) and part sketch comedy, Weikel's script playfully addresses role reversal, gender issues and ''great expectations'' with a wry sense of humor. Bring the kids and spread the word: these 'Tales' are worth talking about. (NYC--June 28, 2002)

review by Carlo Fiorletta

In days of old, when nights were bold,
and toilets weren't invented,
men laid their load beside the road,
and then went on contented.

I read the above graffito in a campground bathroom stall when I vacationed with my family about 30 years ago ( I know, you say, "Thanks for sharing") and I still remember it. If I should happen to live past the age of seventy I would say the same about Tales Told, an evening of two one acts: Gareth & Lynette and Penny Pennyworth, both written by Chris Weikel.

Gareth & Lynette follows the trials and tribulations of noble knight Gareth (Matt Rashid) and fair damsel Lynette (Casey Weaver) in the Arthurian age of chivalry . Gareth is the nephew of the famous King Arthur. Of course Lynette wants someone more like Lancelot. "Uncle Art" thinks Gareth should cut his teeth in the knight biz by starting out as a cook. The writing is really funny. I can't think of any snooty way to say it. Gareth has us rooting for him from his first monologue about an epiphany realized (he is not a tree.) Likewise Lynette strikes me with her charm as a rather typical young woman from then or now or any time, especially when complaining about her sister. "Rosey" cheeks "violet" eyes, she uses horticulture to describe her because she considers her to be a vegetable.

Wonderful writing includes some of the asides (Gareth:"between you and me and the fourth wall" and Lynette:"the whole nine cubits." ) I stole glances of the laughing audience and could almost imagine sitting at the round table. You will gasp when Lynette sees the black knight ("Omigod, we are so dead!") and cheer when Gareth proceeds to do battle and prevails with flying crane Karate Kid-like moves. The punchline to love story plot to time ratios are as close to perfect as I could say.

Penny Penniworth ( A Story of Great Good Fortune) creates even more laughs. Penny (Jamie Heinlein) is looking for her true love. Scotsman Hochkiss Spit (Christopher Borg) the ignorant son of a blacksmith, appears to be that love. Miss Havasnort (Ellen Reilly) seems to be a Mary Poppins with an alcohol problem. Rupert Stryfe (Igor Goldin), is heir to the house of Stryfe. Is that the manor built on a bog? The rich young man seems destined to win, despite the lack of Penny's true affection. All actors portray additional characters, most of the opposite gender. The named are truly inspired, especially Mr. Pinchnose (portrayed by Goldin) and Malodorous Dump (Jamie Heinlein).

Additional secondary characters (Mr. Bunting, played by Ellen Reilly) have maladies like an iron clavicle which prove important to the final plot twists including Rupert (Igor Goldin) and his metal forehead plate. This play provided more gut-wrenching laughter than the first.

Both plays feature period costumes (credit Weikel) and appropriately simple sets (Sandra Goldman) lends itself to excellent mime, especially where an imaginary horse is involved. Lighting (Niklas Anderson) serves to highlight magnificently. Mark Finley's direction is tight. Blocking as comical as the writing. Scene changes are quick.

So get on your horse (ride side saddle if you're a woman) and catch this TOSOS II production.