Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – Three Bears and an Alien: Two quirky and inspired highlights of Origin’s 1st Irish Festival

• By drediman
• September 19, 2016
• No Comments

At this year’s edition of Origin’s 1^st Irish Festival (in its ninth year), two irrepressible offerings are proving to be the highlights of the festival. Despite their quirkiness, both productions bask in the sheer exuberance of their respective storytelling, a trait strongly associated with the Irish and their brand of theater.

Sonya Kelly in “How to Keep an Alien” at the Irish Arts Center

At the Irish Arts Center in Hell’s Kitchen, Sonya Kelly’s autobiographical mostly-solo show How to Keep an Alien (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) is currently charming the heck out of its audiences. Written and performed by Ms. Kelly, the piece chronicles the trials and tribulations of being in a relationship with an illegal alien (in this case, Kate, an “Austr-alien”, she cheekily jokes). Ms. Kelly strongly brings to mind a cross-eyed Rachel Dratch, but without ever being derivative. Although the writing is witty and the direction by Gina Moxley spirited, it’s Ms. Kelly’s self-deprecating presence and unsure charisma that bewitched me (note that she’s supported lovingly by Paul Curley onstage).

The company of “Bears in Space” at 59E59 Theaters

Across town at 59E59 Theaters, Collapsing Horse’s production of Bears in Space (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) is causing a whole lot of riotous ruckus. Set in outer space, Bears in Space tells the story of yes, you got it, bears on an intergalactic adventure. Along the way, they meet an array of mentally, albeit hilariously, unstable aliens before finally saving the day. Think Avenue Q meets Star Wars meets Monty Python – however, even this doesn’t fully capture the unique zaniness that is Bears in Space. Directed with an infectious can-do mindset by Dan Colley, the piece was created by the folks currently performing in it (Jack Gleeson, Aaron Heffernan, Cameron Macauley, and Eoghan Quinn – all simply sensational). And you can tell. The tiny, low-tech production is an accomplished and thrilling piece of stagecraft and performance know-how that plays fast and loose, possessing an almost improvised quality and impeccable comic timing – I suspect this seamlessness is only possible in the hands of those intimately familiar with their own creation.

HOW TO KEEP AN ALIEN
Off-Broadway, Play
Rough Magic at Irish Arts Center
1 hour, 15 minutes (without an intermission)
Through October 1

BEARS IN SPACE
Off-Broadway, Play
Collapsing Horse at 59E59 Theaters
1 hour, 15 minutes (without an intermission)
Through October 2