Slasher at Urban Samurai, performing at the Sabes Jewish Comunity Center

Artwork by Sarah Kaufman.

Slasher (Urban Samurai, performing at the Sabes Jewish Community Center, through Feb 18) would make a better movie.

Playwright Allison Moore‘s premise is terrific: director Marc Hunter has cast Sheena as “the last girl” – the lead, in other words – in Bloodbath and this gore-splattered film represents, Sheena fervently believes, her ticket to a better life.  This despite increasing evidence that Bloodbath is descending, bobsled-like, toward utter disaster.  Utilyzing a cinematic, back-and-forth structure, the play also portrays Sheena’s wacko home life.  This features her blue pill gobbling, mobile wheelchair bound, stay-at-home femi-fascist mother – a wickedly delightful character.  All the elements are present; Slasher could be the basis of an effective film.

But cinematic plays often, I believe, work better on paper.  Short “pool of light” scenes, popping up in various spots on the stage seem to create terrific narrative momentum, but when staged these scenes inevitably involve deadening lights up/lights down, set pieces dragged in/off.  Just as the play regains momentum, a new scene change intervenes.  Slasher suffers from this.

Moreover, the structure (and the need to keep the cast size and playing requirements manageable) forces Moore to short-shrift the portrait of Bloodbath: we only hear about departing actors, the ever-shrinking budget.  And she expends too much time on Frances (Mom).  Deliciously nasty as this character is, she doesn’t sustain the time spent with her.

Still, Slasher offers great pleasures.  Moore’s portrait of Marc the director delights: calm focused hysteria as his movie deteriorates.  Cops coming to shut us down?  I think we still have time to shoot the climactic scene.  Jody, the ambitious young DP turned leading player, is a hoot.  And of course there’s Sheena, the smiling hero.  Her calm and sweet determination carries the play.  Moore’s writing is focused and taut (she is the author of the well-received My Ántonia).

The last scene: earned?  Maybe not, but it worked for me.  It bumps the characters up onto a new and unexpected level.  See Slasher and discover if it works for you.

Director Brian Balcom has wisely staged the piece in the Sabes JCC’s backstage area, rather than on the high school auditorium mainstage.  This provides a niftily funky atmosphere.  The acting is uneven, but the leads – Michael Lee as Marc, Tamara Titsworth as Sheena, Muriel J. Bonertz as Frances, Matthew Cerar as Jody – deliver solid and entertaining performances.  Balcom keeps the proceedings moving briskly along

Slasher is genuinely funny and Urban Samurai is a shoestring theater well worth supporting.  Ticket prices are approachable ($14 advance/$16 at the door; students and seniors $10/12; pay-what-you-can Mondays and Thursdays).

For more info about John Olive, check out his website.