Ambush Mag - December 5-18, 2006
First seen in the O.J. era of 1994, Jeff Goode's The Eight Reindeer Monologues reminds us that as long as there are celebrities and people in power, there will always be headline scandals unmasking their dirty deeds.
The Eight Reindeer Monologues is just that--a series of soliloquies, one sleigh-puller at a time, each of which, in Rashomon-like fashion, reveals a bit more about the "situation" that St. Nick has gotten himself into.
Jolly ol' guy who "knows when you've been sleeping and knows when you're awake"? From Goode's perspective, parents should be a little more circumspect as to why this fat geezer would be aware of their children's sleeping habits. And don't get any of the reindeer started on Mrs. Claus or "Claws" as she's known around the North Pole. Sexual harassment, bestiality, worker exploitation, alcoholism--it's all there and more.
Goode creates eight distinct types for his antlered brood. Thus, Dasher (TJ Toups) is the butch one, Cupid (Jason George) the openly gay one, Blitzen (Taryn Vinet) the feminist, Comet (Duck Tennet) the reformed stoner, and Vixen (Lisa Davis), well, her name says it all.
Goode's rangifers offer deadpan zingers ("Why are we treated like livestock?") as well as some stinging social commentary ("You hope for your son to grow up to be president, your daughter to be pres- er, the wife of the president."). The monologues occasionally go on a bit too long yet, thanks to Goode's sharp characterizations, I'll never think of this octet as just a bunch of interchangeable hoofed bell-jinglers again.
Director Glenn Meche brought out each reindeer's individual personality and guided his cast to give emotionally honest and, in some cases, very funny performances. If the acting was sometimes a bit rough around the edges, that's the difference between accomplished amateurs which these performers certainly are (and the emphasis goes on "accomplished") and such pros as you'd find in a NYC Equity production.
Stand-outs included George as the bitchy, dry (a teensy too dry for me) Cupid who was sassy and even somewhat touching, and Mandi Turner who, having been the most memorable of UNO's dancers at Lughnasa, was Dancer with a "D" here, the reindeer most focused on her career and who, mercifully, was able to avoid Santa's lecherous advances. Defending Mr. Claus for helping him to overcome his multiple addictions, Tennet made a wonderfully over-the-top Comet.
The Eight Reindeer Monologues' post-modern take on Christmas ultimately leaves one a bit saddened. But since it is arguably the best production yet seen at the Marigny Theatre, 8RM gave us all something to smile about for the holidays. Ho-Ho-Ho!
- Brian Sands, Ambush Magazine