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One-act plays take bemused look at life in modern times
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
“How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas” has become an annual event in these parts, and fans of the irreverent holiday musical often ask show creator Robert Dennick Joki when he’s going to write something new.
The wait is over.
Joki’s Rust Belt Theater Company will present five new one-acts, beginning this Friday. Joki wrote all of the plays, and each is a reflection of his bemused observation of modern behavior.
“They are all quirky, dark, social commentaries inspired by pop culture,” said Joki.
In his own words, Joki summarized each play:
“The House of Leviticus”: In the style of the notorious evangelical “hell house” plays, “The House of Leviticus” examines what the world would be like if we still followed the arcane rules outlined in the third book of the Old Testament. Want to sell your children? No problem. Craving shrimp cocktail? Abomination. Audience participation is a part of the show.
“Of Mice and Miss Daisy”: This risque, politically incorrect mash-up parody of “Driving Miss Daisy,” “The Odd Couple” and “Of Mice and Men” lovingly pokes fun at traditional American theater. Imagine Miss Daisy’s driver, Poke, trying to wrestle a dead mouse out of her hands before the pansexual Chickadee sisters who live next door find out she is a “necro-feel-iac.”
“Dating a Monster”: A young girl weighs the pros and cons of dating a creature of the night. Think you’ve heard this story before? Guess again.
“Serial Monogamy”: Two lonely strangers meet for a blind date. And the outcome is murderously awkward.
“Well Baby”: On Oct. 14, 1987, 18-month-old Jessica McClure gained worldwide attention after she spent 58 hours trapped down a well in her backyard. In this play, another little girl falls into a well just down the street. Her mother struggles to find help, but she discovers that people are less inclined to go out of their way when there is no media coverage.
Joki said he wrote “Well Baby” two years ago, and the rest since then, with the most recent being “Dating a Monster.”
The cast for all of the one-acts includes Suzanne Shorrab, Geri DeWitt, Dan Poppke, Britianni Ketcham, Kage Coven, Grace Offerdahl, Sam Luptak, Tom Smith, Tricia Terlesky, Gerri Jenkins, Crystal Beiersdorfer and Beth Farrow.