`SPACE PANDAS' A WHACKY TRIP; ARTS COUNCIL TOYS WITH MAMET PLAY : THE FACTS.Byline: Victoria Giraud Special to the Daily News Renowned American playwright David Mamet Noun 1. David Mamet - United States playwright (born in 1947) Mamet writes kid's plays, too! ``The Revenge of the Space Pandas or Binky Rudich and the Two Speed Clock'' isn't on the same level as Mamet's Pulitzer prize-winning ``Glengarry Glen Ross.'' But the short play at the Arts Council An arts council is a government or private, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts mainly by funding local artists, awarding prizes, and organizing events at home and abroad. is lots of fun for the whole family, with humor that appeals to children and adults alike. The annual Young Artists Ensemble Courtyard Theatre presentation features an energetic, young cast. Midwesterners may get a particular kick out of it since the action takes place in Waukegan, Ill., and in Crestview, the fourth world in the Goolagong system. Binky Rudich (played by an impish imp·ish adj. Of or befitting an imp; mischievous. imp  ish·ly adv.imp Chris Flakus, reminiscent of a young Mickey Rooney) is trying to invent a clock to speed up time. He's helped by friend Vivian (a bubbly Sarah Mitchell) and Bob the sheep (the playful Leigha Cusworth). Binky manages to get the clock working just as he's called to lunch by his impatient mother (the mature Megan Agase). Binky, Vivian and the sheep are whisked off to Crestview, a mysterious planet ruled by the bullying George Topax (a rascally ras·cal n. 1. One that is playfully mischievous. 2. An unscrupulous, dishonest person; a scoundrel. adj. Archaic Made up of, belonging to, or relating to the common people: Jeremy ``Don Claude'' Cowie). But the friends aren't so sure they like being stranded in space. A frisky frisk·y adj. frisk·i·er, frisk·i·est Energetic, lively, and playful: a frisky kitten. frisk , but helpful pair of pandas - Buffy (Meagan Radomski) and Boots (Arielle Gorin) - offer to send them home again soon, but first, they must have lunch, a ``lunafish'' casserole. Alas, before their plans materialize, Topax and his retinue show up and the earthlings are threatened with a pumpkin whacking, a prop that looks just like a guillotine guillotine Instrument for inflicting capital punishment by decapitation. A minimal wooden structure, it supported a heavy blade that, when released, slid down in vertical guides to sever the victim's head. (and administered by Executioner EXECUTIONER. The name given to him who puts criminals to death, according to their sentence; a hangman. 2. In the United States, executions are so rare that there are no executioners by profession. Sara Willis). Topax has his eye on the sheep; he desperately wants a wool letter sweater, and there are no sheep on Crestview. The earthlings escape briefly, but are brought in by the Pandas - they want the reward money. Lo and behold, Crestview has its own TV station and a nosy nos·y or nos·ey adj. nos·i·er, nos·i·est Informal 1. Given to prying into the affairs of others; snoopy. See Synonyms at curious. 2. Prying; inquisitive. reporter (the vivacious Sara Ambrose) to interview Binky. They've even got an aging movie star, Edward Farpis (stylishly played by Clayton Robertson), who, in the end, helps Binky and his friends escape the clutches of Topax and get back home to Waukegan. Other cast members in this whimsical piece include the spirited and funny Court Jesters - Mike Shea and Nicholas O'Leary, a Panda (Aly Steinmeyer), a Citizen (Alexei Gagne-Keats) and the suave, sun-glassed Retainer, Jonathan Cowie. WHAT: ``The Revenge of the Space Pandas'' by David Mamet WHEN: 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday WHERE: The Arts Council, 482 Greenmeadow Drive, Thousand Oaks COST: $5 a person INFORMATION: (805) 381-2747 CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Pandas Meagan Radomski, left, and Arielle Gorin offer to send the earthlings home, but not before they eat a ``lunafish'' casserole. |
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