Britt Plunkett runs his forearm across his head, pushing sweat off his brow. “I actually took a picture of the thermostat,” he says. “I just had to record it: 99 degrees.”For Paul Rudd, the decision to star in Jay Roach’s new comedy, “Dinner for Schmucks,” was an easy one. “I thought the script was really funny,” he says. “That was it. It was kind of a no-brainer.” Of course Rudd, who’s built an impressive resume of smart comedies, was just as enamored of the man behind the camera. Though Lilith Fair returned from an 11-year hiatus to a very different musical landscape, it is one that Sarah McLachlan and Co. helped lay the blueprints for more than a decade ago.Although facts on the famed Clinton-Mezvinsky wedding, which is rumored to happen this weekend, are tighter than Hillary Clinton’s smile, some details have leaked out. Sources report that groom Marc Mezvinsky has “hurt” his father’s family by not inviting them to the wedding (Ed Mezvinsky pleaded guilty in 2002 to swindling investors out of $10 million.He may play the part of a high-end gigolo in “The Extra Man,” but offscreen, Kevin Kline continues to be quite a charmer.
REVIEW. Initially, Company One’s “ARTiculation” feels like your average run-of-the-mill slam poetry-style performance piece, a bunch of young artists chanting, clapping and rhyming their dismay at the system.
But after initial rants about “only getting the scholarship to attend street university” (even though one of them attends NYU and another later speaks of having a degree) and proclaiming that they “fight the good fight with pen in hand and word in mouth,” the troupe settles into a rhythm and the result is a refreshingly engaging, honest, thoughtful piece of theater.
At a time when so many performers are talking about “keeping it real,” this supremely talented troupe actually do it. They talk God, love, sex, politics, art, and a “14 billion dollar tunnel that just don’t work.”
They laugh often, clearly enjoying their time in that elusive zone performers strive for. And they laugh at themselves admitting, “We know nothing about Bob Marley’s philosophy but we will all rock his shirts.” But mostly, they’re honest, especially when they tackle race, speak frankly about instant message hookups and make an observation about Barack Obama nobody else will.
Sure they’re a courageous young troupe working hard to earn their right to be heard and respected. But at their core, the actors and poets of “ARTiculation” are supremely talented performers.
Even if young twenty-something straight guys aren’t your thing, Nik Walker will make you swoon. He’s got that rarely seen stage presence most actors would make a deal with the devil to have. And he’s got impressive vocal chops that’ll leave you wishing he’d finish that Tracy Chapman song he starts a couple of times in the show.
But Walker’s hardly the only star shining in this production. Tory Bullock displays incredible emotional range and, together with the hilarious Danny Balel, delivers the most sensible dialogue on race you may ever hear.
Teri Deletetsky shines in a delightful take on sex ed class and later a touching piece called “Dear Israel.” Marvelyn McFarlane comes awfully close to stealing the show with impeccable comic timing and incredibly joyful presence.
Though “ARTiculation” offers an incredible message, it’s the messengers in this production that make it special.
‘ARTiculation’
Through Jan. 24
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre
949 Comm. Ave., Boston
Green B Line to Pleasant St.
$15-$30, 866-811-4111
www.companyone.org
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In the July MMMpod, Young Veins talk about breaking away from Panic! at the Disco, Keith Lockhart talks about Buckwheat Zydeco throwing the Boston Pops for a loop, Zooey Deschanel talks about how Roy Orbison inspired a She & Him song, Derek Miller of Sleigh Bells talks about how awesome Funkadelic is, and we talk about how awesome Jimmy Cliff is, who in turn talks about Sam Cooke and divine intervention. An explosive show for July! Oh yeah, and we also test your knowledge of America songs in the MMMPod medley.
