'FULLY COMMITTED' TO THE ROLE JASON GRAAE PREPARES A HEARTY BUFFET OF CHARACTERS AT EL PORTAL.Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Critic IN BECKY MODE'S ``Fully Committed,'' local funnyman fun·ny·man n. A humorous person, especially a professional comedian. Jason Graae has found a vehicle that should - if nothing else - burn off the adrenalin the actor always seems to be carrying around by the saddlebag full whenever he takes the stage. The very funny ``Committed'' calls for one performer to tackle some 30 roles at breakneck break·neck adj. 1. Dangerously fast: a breakneck pace. 2. Likely to cause an accident: a breakneck curve. speed in 80 minutes with but a single break that lasts barely a minute. However you do the math, it's a workout. And Graae - a cabaret performer and mainstay in the Reprise re·prise n. 1. Music a. A repetition of a phrase or verse. b. A return to an original theme. 2. A recurrence or resumption of an action. tr.v. ! musicals - certainly possesses the conditioning for it. The production, under Glenn Casale's direction, doesn't come across as forced or desperate. Graae can play low-key charm as well as pile-driving obnoxiousness with equal skill. Actually, the way this piece breezes by, it doesn't much matter how heartily we detest de·test tr.v. de·test·ed, de·test·ing, de·tests To dislike intensely; abhor. [French détester, from Latin d the intruders who are making our hero Sam Pellikowski's day so blasted miserable. Convincing comic lunacy lunacy: see insanity. will never be a Graae shortcoming short·com·ing n. A deficiency; a flaw. shortcoming Noun a fault or weakness Noun 1. . That he is able to bring a regular-guy understanding to Sam's plight is the revelation here. There are instances, more than one, where the mayhem ebbs, and Graae - as Sam - is able to take a breath, shake his head, or just give a grimace grimace Neurology A humorless facial 'mask' typically seen in Pts with catatonia. See Amimia. or a knowing smile. And we know what the guy must be thinking. The rest of the time, Graae is on the move. Sam's a struggling actor day- jobbing as a reservation clerk at an exclusive New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of restaurant. On this particular day, the lead reservationist, Bob, is out, leaving Sam to man the phones alone. This is also the day where everything that could possibly go afoul, does. So as the phone's multiple lines are lighting up with the kookiest of callers hoping for a reservation, Sam must also contend with the restaurant's brute of a chef, its sleazy maitre d', the put-upon hostess, the cook and Bob, who says he's on his way but probably isn't. On it goes. Gourmet magazine is waiting in the lobby, Zagat guide honcho Honcho A slang term describing the leader or person in charge of an organization. Notes: The CEO of a company could be referred to as the honcho or "head honcho." See also: CEO, CFO, COO, Insider, Leprechaun Leader Tim Zagat has arrived unexpectedly, and a messy accident in the ladies room needs attending to pronto pron·to adv. Informal Without delay; quickly. [Spanish, from Latin pr  mptus; see prompt. . There's also the matter of
Sam's tepid acting career and the agents who will barely take his
calls, and Sam's recently widowed father who wants him to come back
to Indiana for Christmas. A certain portion of this was based on
playwright Mode's experiences as a waitress and coat-check girl.
It would be silly to attach too much substance to the travails of Sam. ``Fully Committed'' - the title is the chef's ultra-pretentious way of informing a caller that there are no available tables - isn't deep. Basically it's the story of a very bad day that becomes a very good day once Sam discards a few nice-guy ethics and ramps up his sense of ``personal entitlement.'' Most of the play's grade-A jerks end up getting what they richly deserve. Which, to Mode's credit, proves to be infinitely satisfying. Also hilarious. Clearly you're drawing on real experiences when you dream up a caller who gripes gripe v. griped, grip·ing, gripes v.intr. 1. Informal To complain naggingly or petulantly; grumble. 2. To have sharp pains in the bowels. v.tr. 1. over cold soup and not receiving a senior citizen discount or a faux mafioso who requests that a waiter sing ``The Lady Is a Tramp'' at his parents' anniversary dinner. ``Fully Committed'' played the Coronet Theatre a few years back with its original performer, Mark Setlock, and it was funny to the point of inducing coronaries. Graae inhabits the roles differently. He's not as caffeinated as Setlock, but he's just as comfortable with all the quick persona switches. When the only thing to differentiate one character from another is a voice, a prop or a way of standing, an actor has to be nothing if not resourceful. Graae is. Director Casale plays to his performer's strengths. The actor may be hopping chairs to shuttle between reservation phone, private phone and intercom, but things never get too manic. Which, given that this is Jason Graae we're talking about, is saying something. Evan Henerson, (818) 713-3651 evan.henerson(at)dailynews.com FULLY COMMITTED - Three and one half stars Where: San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. Playhouse at the El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. When: 8 tonight, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday (closes Sunday). Tickets: $35 to $45. Call (818) 764-2400 or visit www.sanfernandovalleyplayhouse.com. In a nutshell: Graae a la Mode proves a comically satisfying meal. CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- 3) no caption (Jason Graae) |
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