OnMilwaukee.com - December 6, 2000


Not for kids, but "Reindeer Monologues" is richly comic

by David Doll

"The Eight Reindeer Monologues" by Jeff Goode -- produced by In Tandem Productions -- is a holiday play that does not admit anyone under the age of 17 unless accompanied by an adult. Goode has used Santa and his reindeer to examine the issues of sexual harassment, rape and pederasty, which have been known to be issues during the holidays. Yet Mr. Goode has couched his cogent observations in a series of richly comic yet serious monologues.

This production -- which runs through Fri., Dec. 22, at the Walker's Point Center for the Arts, 911 W. National Ave. -- is truly masterful. In Tandem has secured the eight enormously talented actors, provided them with symbolic antlers and a simple platform with a chair from which they declaim their stories. The intimacy of the Walker's Point Center for the Arts helps to reinforce the power of this production.

Chris Flieller as director has done marvels in casting the reindeer so that each of them was distinct but part of a very special closely knit team. These reindeer really convince one that they can fly since they positively soar doing their monologues. The audience enjoyed the antics but got very quiet during the more serious moments as well they might.

Dasher, Christopher Spott, opens the proceedings with panache and a few snide comments about Rudolph and the foggy night. He suggests the fog was part of a cover up. His comments on the dedication of the eight are impressive and useful to the advancement of the plot. Dasher is followed by Aaron Orear as Cupid. This Cupid is very arch, very funny, and very compelling. His comments on Santa tend to make the plot thicken.

Prancer (aka Hollywood) is played by Patrick Holland . Suggesting an herbivore version of Elvis, he is very compelling. The audience is beginning to relax and accept the tale when Leah Delaney as Blitzen takes center stage and bring us back to the problem of Santa and his little foibles. She amuses yet irritates and makes us begin to take the issue seriously.

Giovanni Ortega is an attractive and powerful actor who smolders and threatens with his aura. His take of Santa makes us wary and rather disturbed. When Stacey Meyers' Dancer takes the stage, she exudes a smoldering eroticism yet reminds us that being attractive is not necessarily being available. The audience begins to squirm even as they chortle. Timothy Reynolds as Donner makes us squirm even more with his ambivalent defense of the fat fellow. Can we really suspect Santa?

Tiffany Boeke as Vixen has the advantage of the build up provided by her colleagues. Even given this advantage, her performance is awesome. She is so vulnerable and so confrontational that we as audience must do a little soul searching. Concupiscence is a real part of our human baggage and is not something most of us are very comfortable with. When Vixen has finished there is a moment of very pregnant silence and then the audience breaks into applause to celebrate the performance and postpone a serious reflection on the issues. This is a must see seats should still be available for Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Call (414) 444-2316 for tickets before it is too late.