Hero Vs. Sidekick
This quirky funny treasure put on by Noble Porpoise Theatre at Studio 16 is a bit hard to follow but the dialogue and attitude of the performers – two in physical body but a total of seven in personalities - plus the millions of unseen zombies that are constantly being killed and trying to kill our cranky, sarcastic bitchy and multiple personalitied (is there such a word? – oh well it fits the story) characters makes it all worthwhile.
The major philosophical conflict between the two protagonists is that Kieran Macanulty has to be the Hero and Sylvie LaRiviere has to be the Sidekick. Why?
Because.. . well .
Its obvious … Heros have a penis…
Duh…Everyone knows that!!!!
With this “profound” subplot mixed with a video game, swords, a free-standing column serving many different functions and a multitude of archetypes – Hero, Villain, Soothsayer, Archibald, (played by Keran Macanulty) and Sidekick, Lackey and Reginald (played by Sylvie LaRiviere)... All in the same play… how can it go wrong?
It doesn’t. Its weird and its wonderful but it's not wrong.
The stage is bare and performers in street clothes – we use our imaginations, to fill in the blanks.
The pleasure of the show is in the cranky, sarcastic and fabulous dialogue and tug and pull relationships between Sylvie and Keran in their various personalities.
Wren Handman, Production Manager for Hero vs. Sidekick gave me a couple of examples to allow you to taste the dialogue:
SIDEKICK: I did not cheat. I am just awesome. And you are just a pathetic little man with a teeny tiny penis. So… Face!
Then HERO attacks and they engage in epic battle! It is very clumsy.
HERO: Can’t breathe. Can’t breathe.
SIDEKICK: Use your few remaining moments to tell me how awesome I am.
HERO: Eat…my…ass…
SIDEKICK: Die, fiend!
One other segment of dialogue:
SIDEKICK: We just linked our brains to a bunch of undead supercreatures. That was the easy part?
HERO: It was easy for me.
SIDEKICK: And your mom was easy for me.
I loved this silly quirky funny 45 minute work-in-progress from Noble Porpoise Theatre.
If you have a quirky sense of humour with a sarcastic bent , oh – did I mention the zillions of (unseen but you KNOW they are there) zombies? - this will tickle your sense of humour and make your day.