'CREDEAUX' A CANNY PORTRAIT OF DESPERATE YOUTH.Byline: Julio Martinez Correspondent HAVING ITS West Coast premiere at Burbank-based Victory Theatre, Keith Bunin's ``The Credeaux Canvas'' spotlights the machinations of three 20-something friends who conspire con·spire v. con·spired, con·spir·ing, con·spires v.intr. 1. To plan together secretly to commit an illegal or wrongful act or accomplish a legal purpose through illegal action. 2. to swindle swindle v. to cheat through trick, device, false statements or other fraudulent methods with the intent to acquire money or property from another to which the swindler is not entitled. Swindling is a crime as one form of theft. (See: fraud, theft) an elderly art patron because of their shared need to make something happen in their lives before they are enveloped en·vel·op tr.v. en·vel·oped, en·vel·op·ing, en·vel·ops 1. To enclose or encase completely with or as if with a covering: "Accompanying the darkness, a stillness envelops the city" by ever-encroaching middle age. As these three desperately needy youths make their cathartic cathartic (kəthär`tĭk): see laxative. journey into larceny larceny, in law, the unlawful taking and carrying away of the property of another, with intent to deprive the owner of its use or to appropriate it to the use of the perpetrator or of someone else. , they are buoyed by Bunin's captivating cap·ti·vate tr.v. cap·ti·vat·ed, cap·ti·vat·ing, cap·ti·vates 1. To attract and hold by charm, beauty, or excellence. See Synonyms at charm. 2. Archaic To capture. dialogue and the impressively intuitive staging of Paul Nicolai Stein. The production falters with its less-than-satisfying final scene, but that is certainly not the fault of an outstanding four-member ensemble. The action is set entirely in the East Village walk-up of single-minded art student Winston (played by Johnny Clark) and his emotionally fragile roommate Jamie (Matt Skaja). Both young men are struggling with identity crises. As an artist, Winston is a masterful technician with the creative zeal of a genius but only a hack's talent. The always-effervescent Jamie, who was once hospitalized for attempted suicide, has been holding down a dead- end job selling real estate. His main source of comfort is his relationship with his comely come·ly adj. come·li·er, come·li·est 1. Pleasing and wholesome in appearance; attractive. See Synonyms at beautiful. 2. Suitable; seemly: comely behavior. girlfriend, Amelia (Kimberly-Rose), a struggling pop vocalist who spends more time waitressing than singing. When Jamie's successful art dealer father dies and cuts him completely out of his will, Jamie hatches a scheme to use Winston's skill at copying the style of deceased French artist Jean-Paul Credeaux to swindle Tess (Marilyn McIntyre), one of his father's wealthiest clients. Central to his plans is the cooperation of Amelia, who must pose in the nude for Winston. Bunin's dialogue is a delicious amalgam of humor and angst. The humor is supplied mostly by Clark's intensely quirky portrayal of an artist who is aware of his own limitations but has no emotional choice but to keep on painting. His exquisitely timed one-liners reflect Winston's placid objectivity as he accepts Jamie's schemes and Amelia's growing infatuation for him with total emotional detachment. Kimberly-Rose is endearingly fragile and hauntingly beautiful in her portrayal of Amelia. Her extended nude scene posing for Winston is highlighted by Amelia's transformation from an embarrassed, doubtful conspirator conspirator n. a person or entity who enters into a plot with one or more other people or entities to commit illegal acts, legal acts with an illegal object, or using illegal methods, to the harm of others. in her boyfriend's scheme to a glowing vessel of passion when she comes to the self-deluded realization that Winston may be her true soul mate. Skaja is perfect as the life-challenged Jamie who always seems on the verge On the Verge (or The Geography of Yearning) is a play written by Eric Overmyer. It makes extensive use of esoteric language and pop culture references from the late nineteenth century to 1955. of emotional overload. McIntyre's steely-eyed Tess, the Peggy Guggenheim-like art patron, appears in only one scene - but in it, she completely overpowers the callow deceivers. THE CREDEAUX CANVAS - Three stars Where: Victory Theatre Center, 3324 W. Victory Boulevard, Burbank. When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday; through April 24. Tickets: $20. Call (818) 426-6053. In a nutshell: Playwright Keith Bunin's captivating tale of three life- challenged, would-be swindlers is given a powerful treatment by a talented four-member ensemble. |
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