by dick kerekes dickkerekes@yahoo.com
The Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre opened the North Florida premiere of Neil LaBute’s cutting edge play Fat Pig. This play will run through March 24 at 716 Ocean Blvd in Atlantic Beach.
The setting is some large city near an ocean, but from the neutral accents, not New York. It is the story of a romance between a handsome junior executive in his 30s with an amply endowed and plus-sized woman.
Tom and Helen meet at a fast food restaurant while sharing a table, they are attracted to each other and some dates follow. Helen, it seems, wears her weight well and candidly says “It’s not a shame for me” and they even joke about it.
Meanwhile, back at the office, Tom’s co-worker, Carter, is anti-old people, anti-fatties, anti-gay, crude, rude and callow person. He taunts, torments and teases Tom about his dating a Rubensque sized woman.
Complicating things is Tom’s co-worker #2, Jeannie, a company accounting clerk who just happens to be Tom’s ex-girlfriend. (Shame on you Tom, you know office romances are nothing but problems!). Hell has no fury like a dumped woman, and Jeannie was dumped for no apparent reason.
In private scenes Tom and Helen proclaim their affection for each other, but Helen notices that all their dates seem to be late at night and at out-of-the-way events or restaurants. In a short bedroom scene, after a session of physical passion, Tom sincerely exclaims “I haven’t felt this way for a long time.” Is he sincere or just playing games? Is this really love?
Helen inquires of Tom, “why don’t you ever take me to meet your friends, or to an office party?” The truth is Tom has been agonizing over peer pressure to dump her. This is as far as I will take you in this plot, discover the rest when you see the play.
Director Tracey Gallagher has cast four terrific actors who are exceptionally strong and believable in these challenging roles.
Michael Smithgall, as Tom, has a boyish charm as a guy who is not really sure what he wants in a woman. (He admits to dating a lot of women) His dialogue is so natural and rolls off his lips as if this actually happened to him.
Phillip Walls is magnificently obnoxious as co-worker Carter and is so effective that I guarantee you will say “what a jerk” to your self before the final curtain.
I liked Janelle Rosko as Amanda in Cavedweller last year at her ABET debut but she is even better as Jennie, the svelte and attractive female who takes Tom’s rejection as a personal insult
Zeina Salame is marvelous as Helen. She portrays this character as charming and bright, yet with a vulnerability that is heartbreaking. Ms. Salame is a JU theatre graduate who not only is a terrific actress, but is a highly regarded director and stage manager. She now teaches in Daytona Beach and commuted just to do this role.
Director Tracy Gallagher also designed the set and managed to get a very modern office, two different restaurants and a bedroom on this small stage. Jennie Jarvis was the assistant director. Bill Jamieson wrote and performed the original music with Barbara Evans, ABET Executive Director co-coordinating the entire production.
Patrons are warned on the website and at the door that the language in the play is rough, and it truly is. Tracy Gallagher as a director is one who believes in following the script written by the playwright to the letter, and I applaud her for this. I suppose I could fault playwright Neil LaBute for the excessive swearing by all the characters. LaBute is like this in all his plays and films, and I guess we all have to realize that some people actually talk this way all the time and it is not for reasons of shock they use these words, but it is just second nature to them. LaBute dedicated this play to playwright David Mamet, and that is all I need to say.
LeBute likes to stir things up in his work, and he does with a title like FAT PIG. As you watch this play you will find yourself examining how you feel about other people’s appearance and how society looks at them, especially overweight people.
ABET certainly lives up to the experimental in its name with this show. It is different. It has humor, but can be cruel and emotional as well. You will find this an interesting evening of theatre featuring fine actors and excellent direction.
Call 249-7177 for information and reservations.
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