If you're a fan of the Coen Brothers films and their quirky scripts, dark humor and distinctive characters, head over to the Jobsite Theater for the Tampa debut of Almost An Evening, written by Ethan Coen. After writing, directing and producing hit films including Raising Arizona, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou? and No Country For Old Men with his brother Joel, Ethan set off in a different direction. He channeled his inner playwright and wrote his first play, Almost An Evening, which held an extended sold-out engagement Off-Broadway in 2008-2009. Almost An Evening opened to a sell out crowd in Tampa on September 9th and runs through October 4th.
Almost An Evening is a series of three, one act offbeat plays, centering around the idea of hell, both on earth and in the hereafter. Just a warning, if Mom's not a fan of four letter words, you may want to leave her at home. Otherwise, grab an empty seat, let the sound of "The Girl from Ipanema" wallow in your head and get ready for more than almost an evening as this show does not disappoint!
Directed by Matthew Ray, the three short plays have an underlying premise that hell lurks right under the surface of, or just around the corner from, everyday life. The concept of hell is comically explored in "Waiting", "Four Benches", and "Debate". As always at the Jobsite, the minimalist set by Brian Smallheer and intimate setting keeps the focus on the actors and engages the audience.
In the first short "Waiting", a woman (Melissa Ruchong) of eroding patience waits out eternity in a doorless room with an uncommunicative, high-typing "old school" receptionist (Jonelle Meyer). If you've ever had to deal with the IRS, Obamacare or insurance companies, you'll sympathize with her as she struggles through the bureaucratic maze in a waiting room with magazines that never change. As in life, just when you think you're getting somewhere, "The Girl from Ipanema" attacks again and you're right back to where you started, in a comical 1950's kinda way.
In the second short, "Four Benches", a British intelligence agent (Spencer Meyers,) confronts death with a large naked Texan (Matthew Frankel) in a New York steam room. I have to admit, this short displays more of Coen's dark side and like the incessant typing in the previous scene, the dripping of water in this one reminds the audience that hell is similar to being stuck in one place forever, with a side of dark humor.
The final short, "Debate" had me rummaging through my handbag for a kleenex I was laughing so hard! Dressed in biblical white robes, the big, brash Old Testament "judging" God (Owen Robertson) debates the kind, benevolent New Testament "loving" God (Jonelle Meyer). Old Testament God takes the lectern first, spewing profanities as he blasts humanity for ignoring some of the "simplest" ways life should work. "They're the 10 Commandments, not the 10 f***ing suggestions!" he shouts at one point. Dainty, compassionate New Testament God follows in her own loving way, offering a more benevolent, but still quite comical, alternative.
Like the Jobsite, Almost An Evening, is fun, funky, alternative theatre at its finest. Almost An Evening plays Thursdays - Sundays through October 4th. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
