I KISSED DASH RIPROCK
nytheatre.com review by Daniel Asher
August 15, 2002
I Kissed Dash Riprock is a one woman show at The Red Room, the
intimate black box above the Kraine Theater. Only a few minutes into the
show, writer/performer Cyndi Freeman looks like a very excited bird in
too small a cage. Freeman’s performance is high octane, and at times I
felt like I was a watching a very attractive Trout Lure, spinning, and
shining when the light hits just right. Her story is that of a struggling actress, of marginal talent, dealing with the excitement, trials, and pitfalls of making a life in the entertainment industry. All the while, she’s obsessed with the famous film star Dash Riprock. She seats you in the front car of the roller coaster ride that is her pursuit of success as an artist, as well as the chase and catch of Dash. Freeman also portrays five other characters in the story, such as her best friend Dot and Mr. Riprock himself. Freeman’s transitions between characters are muddy, and lack specificity to make them real. She is sometimes two or three words into a character change before that character’s appropriate accent or speech pattern kicks in. The exception is the character of her hopelessly romantic inner voice "Juliet." Freeman’s best acting is displayed when Juliet surfaces.
Told in four sections, Ms. Freeman uses the three 15-second blackouts to change her outfit (and, I imagine, to catch her breath). However, the blackout’s intended effect of delineating time and location in the story goes unrealized.
The piece makes its point early and could use some pruning. Overall, I Kissed Dash Riprock is an engaging ride, and I would like to see Freeman do material with more depth than this neurotic thirty something "why can’t I find love" female.
