AmericanTheaterWeb Original News & Reviews

Beowulf and Rambo, two legendary action heroes separated by roughly a thousand years, can currently be found appearing off-Broadway, courtesy of two of the city's most adventuresome theater companies.

Banana Bag and Bodice are the folks behind the "songplay" that brings the title character of the old English poem to life. In Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage, a trio of academics take to the stage of the Abrons Arts Center to discuss the ancient saga and its implications in today's world. Before long, the story's medieval Scandavian world comes to life behind them, and drags each of the academics into the story about how Beowulf (Jason Craig) takes on the monster Grendel (Christopher Kuckenbaker), who's been murdering the knights at Heorot, the court ruled by Hrothgar (played by the show's composer Dave Malloy). After Beowulf has triumphed over his monstrous opponent, he finds that he must face other foes, including Grendel's mother (Jessica Jelliffe) and ultimately a huge dragon (Beth WIlmurt).

The piece, directed by Rod Kipskind, blends together both modern sensibilities and the ancient world with flair. The company-designed set ingeniously uses a back wall of square window fans, which look strangely exotic when stacked on top of one another and help contribute to a gorgeous final sequence in the show. Kalbrina Sky Buck's costumes wittily comment on both current styles and perceptions of warrior garb: particularly satisfying are the almost cheerleader-like Viking outfits for two female warriors (Anna Ishida, Shaye Troha). The clever visuals of the piece are mirrored by the thoughtfulness of Malloy's rock score, which gives each of the primary characters his (or her) own style.

Unfortunately, the duality of the show, as it moves from storytelling to analysis, can weary: just as theatergoers are finding themselves drawn into the narrative, the storytelling is undercut by the academics' intrusions. Invariably, though, one's pulled back into this thoughtful deconstruction, and ultimately, this "songplay" adds a small carryon to the "baggage" of legend.

The story of Rambo, the Vietnam vet who goes on his own vengeful warpath, is put under the microscope in Pavol Liska and Kelly Copper's Rambo Solo, a Nature Theatre of Oklahoma production enjoying an extended run at Soho Rep. In "Solo," a diehard fan (Zachary Oberzan) of this story – in both its novel and movie form – takes to the stage to retell the tale of a vet who finds himself battling a small-town sheriff and a host of other law enforcement officials in the wilds of Calfornia.

Oberzan himself professes to having a "deep connection" with the story and as he attempts to re-tell it, navigating the differences between its details in print and on screen, he must also sort through his own memories of his experiences with it in both forms. As Oberzan traverses a small strip of a stage during the performance, video of him reacting portions of the piece runs behind him. Theatergoers sit on rich shag carpeting at the Soho Rep, and during this 90-minute piece, it feels almost as if one has been transported back some 30 years to a basement where some high school friend is putting on a show about his favorite movie.

It's a charming conceit that, thanks to Oberzan's winning performance, serves up more than its fair share of chuckles and smiles, even if one's never encountered the novel or Sylvester Stallone's interpretation of it, and the show's video finale, best left as a surprise, takes the piece to a point of wonderful hilarity.

---- Andy Propst

Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage plays at the Abrons Arts Center (466 Grand Street). Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8pm; Sunday at 5pm. Tickets are $20-$25 and can be purchased by calling 866-811-4111 or by visiting www.OvationTix.com. Further information is available online at www.BeowulfNYC.com

Rambo Solo plays at Soho Rep (46 Walker Street). Performances are Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays at 7:30pm. Tickets are 99 cents for all Sunday performances. For others performances, before April 12, tickets are $25. After April 12, tickets are $35. For tickets, call 212-352-3101 or visit www.TheaterMania.com. Further information is available online at www.OKTheater.org.