What would you do if your fragile existence was torn apart? Would you question your sanity? Look for help? Act out according to your most base instincts? Stand your ground?
A father / son moment?
Anyone who works in the food industry knows how difficult it can be to please your customers, but once Teddy and his girlfriend Cheryl enter Foster’s Diner in Southern New Mexico, in the Retro Productions presentation of “When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder?” at The Spoon Theater, they bring with them a whole different world of trouble.
Can she be trusted?
The Spoon is a very small space, which adds to the immediacy of the moment. The brilliant set design by Jack and Rebecca Cunningham even included some audience seats on both sides of the stage itself, effectively placing everyone inside the diner. Other fine attention to detail included a fully-functioning kitchen where hostess Angel heated up coffee and fried up some steak and eggs that her patrons then consumed, a clock that was set correctly to the time within the play and a lighted jukebox that was turned on and off at key moments.
Classy New Yorkers
Christopher Patrick Mullen steals the show as the ringmaster Teddy. He could’ve gone for cheap thrills by simply playing to extremes, but he adds in nuance by allowing for moments of softness and sadness, even shifting out of his accent when he’s ready to break with any pretense that he might still be a nice guy after all. His role requires maximum energy, and he was already drenched with sweat before the second act began.
Putting on a brave face.
Other stand-outs include Heather E. Cunningham as Angel. She works so hard to please everyone else, letting all others lay into her as she tries to roll with the punches. As the situation gets more volatile, her defenses gradually crumble as she loses the ability to cope.
Clark runs the place.
Also Dave T. Koenig did an excellent job as Clark, the diner’s owner. It’s entertaining to watch him take charge and walk over all the other characters. Whereas Teddy uses his cunning and trickery to gain the advantage, Clark simply stays focused, leading by example and not letting anyone get under his skin.
Lyle doesn't want any problems.
All in all, this is a fantastic ensemble piece. Director Ric Sechrest keeps the pace tight throughout. The situation gets quite tense but has many darkly humorous moments as well. It’s very satisfying to see who will emerge from the struggle as a hero and who will lose it all.
When You Coming Back, Red Ryder? runs from Thursday, May 7 through Saturday, May 23. Tickets are $18, $15 for students and seniors with valid ID. All performances take place at the Spoon Theater on 38 West 38 St, 5th floor,between 5th and 6th Avenues. Purchase Tickets.
(All photos taken by Kristen Vaughan.)
Andrew Singer performs all over the NYC as comedic rapper “soce, the elemental wizard.” He has toured Europe and the U.S., and been featured on numerous media outlets, including MTV, VH1, Here TV, Logo, The Source, Out, Howard Stern and Sirius Shade 45. His next full-length show will be on Thursday, May 21 at 9pm at Desmond’s Tavern.
Last 5 posts by Andrew Singer
- Vodka Shoes - March 4th, 2010
- Yisrael Campbell: Circumsize Him (Part One) - February 12th, 2010
- A Weekend of Arts and Leisure - January 4th, 2010
- Evan Morgenstern: A Really Nice Guy - August 27th, 2009
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