ESCAPE FROM PTERODACTYL ISLAND
nytheatre.com review by Stan Richardson
August 15, 2003
I have an enormous amount of respect for the actors in this show—on the
opening afternoon of Escape from Pterodactyl Island, the eleven
person ensemble gave a robust performance (much of it in Victorian
attire) in a theatre without air-conditioning, but with remarkably loud
ceiling fans. That their voices and performances carried over this
barrier of white noise is commendable. I also have an enormous amount of
sympathy for the actors in this show— they have been given very little
in the way of interesting things to sing, say, or do. This "monstrous
musical adventure" identifies itself as a spoof of the works of Jules
Verne, but it has neither the bite of satire nor the emulatory attention
to detail necessary for parody. A dramatic formula quickly emerges: a
few minutes of implausible exposition followed by a bland song
(frequently falling outside the singer’s comfortable range) followed by
more dialogue followed by a reprise of said song sung by a different
character with a different intention but virtually identical lyrics. The
direction, most of which seemed to be blocking, and the choreography,
most of which also seemed to be blocking, does not illuminate or confer
any sort of sensibility needed to engage an audience.Nonetheless, there were enjoyable aspects. Tim Jerome, a distinguished actor of stage and film, brings emotion, nuance, style, and humor to his portrayal of Dr. Devo, the mad scientist. "The Sacrifice" gives Jessica Morris, as a tribal high priestess, the opportunity to show off her powerful Yma Sumac-size range, and Joey Sorge (a scientist) and Catherine Carpenter (a native) take advantage of their most interesting material as he gives her a rapturous English lesson.
