Mark Shyzer as Esther (Photo credit: Tanja-Tiziana, Double Crossed Photography)

Fishbowl starts off deceptively;  writer / performer Mark Shyzer introduces his cast of characters with such blasts of humor, and his transformations are so successful, that you might be fooled into thinking Fishbowl was written to be little more than a vanity piece in order to showcase Mr. Shyzer’s talent of reeling off bitingly funny one-liners while embodying 5 seemingly unrelated but unforgettable characters.

Soon enough as these characters cycle through, however, you begin to see that each of their monologues are really more like clues that lead you to the real story which intricately weaves such heady topics as Dark Matter, The Uncertainty Principle, and The Grand Unified Theory of Everything in between the huge laughs. By the time this Babel-in-a-Fishbowl ties all the ends together the story has become more fascinating than funny … and that’s a good thing.

Shyzer takes the stage without costumes for this production, but it’s easy enough to follow along as he moves from character to character … and as each character is revisited your understanding of each one of them deepens as  more of their back story is revealed.

First up is Esther, a 14 year old science nerd who is telling her story not to us, but to her best friend, Frank … a goldfish.  While she’s both annoyed at having to share her class project with the biggest slacker in her grade, she also admits to Frank that’s she’s secretly thrilled that this random pairing may be the start of a wonderful friendship.  As she explains to her fish … “I need some friends who aren’t outward manifestations of my antisocial tendencies.”

Next up is Frances, a disenchanted 16 year old who would rather be known by “Ravyn”.  He spends a lot of time brooding, moping, staring, thinking and contemplating.  His biggest upcoming tragedy is that he’s being told by his parents that he’s got to go to a “Birthday Party slash Barbecue slash Family Reunion slash … my wrists”.

We are also introduced to Janice, a gin soaked barfly who confides in Trevor the bartender about the daily ups and downs of what, upon first examination, seems a very pointless and superficial existence.    She talks about just having come back from a gay cruise with her gay ex-husband (“A Gay Cruise … the boat, not the scientologist”).  Her description of a certain little extra she got at the on-ship spa was so packed with clever lines that I could barely keep from replaying the very descriptive visuals that were placed in my head even days later.  To try and repeat it here wouldn’t do it justice … you’d have to hear it for yourself.

Eventually we come upon Walter who is an old man apparently on the verge of death whiling away his last days in a hospital bed and checking in every so often with his comatose roommate, George, who of course can’t answer.  He spends his time trying to come up with some meaningful last lines to speak on his deathbed in between asking George to pull his finger.

Lastly, interspersed via TV and sometimes in person we meet Carol, perky host of a TV exercise show.  But what’s going on in front of the camera is only half as interesting as what goes on when the tape stops rolling.

Fishbowl does the unexpected: brings enormous concepts of the universe down to a level of understanding that even the most scientifically challenged among us (ahem, that would be me) can understand, and delivers it all with a spoonful – no, make that a Fishbowl full – of laughter.  A definite Frigid must-see.

~~~

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Okay, okay, so these last few days have been relatively mild, I admit.  Even that giant pile of grey gunk that the plow flung upon my curb which – at it’s all time high – reached up to my shoulders has now evaporated enough to reveal the mounds of garbage that were piled there so eagerly just before the snowstorm hit a few weeks ago.  So, in all fairness, it’s not really “brrrr” worthy out there.  Still, don’t let that stop you from getting in the Frigid spirit!

This morning while you were nestled all snug in your bed, the Frigid Fairy came down the chimney and … hell … I don’t even know where I was going with this.

BUT, what I do know is that today is the start of the Frigid Festival, which is something we take very seriously here at The Happiest Medium!  For more information please visit the official Frigid site and check out the blurbs for some of the shows that are on deck.  And also check this spot often, because we’re going to be covering some really good 1 hour shows.  Here’s what we’ll be reviewing in the next few days:

Fishbowl - Written by Mark Shyzer

“Shockingly funny and equally moving, Mark Shyzer’s Fishbowl slyly reveals the connections between five outrageously hilarious characters: a nerdy schoolgirl obsessed with physics, a nihilistic teenage hipster, a gin-soaked divorcee, a perky aerobics instructor and an octogenarian with an odd sense of humour… all played by Shyzer.”

The Red Room   Wed 2/24,9:30,Fri 2/26,6:30,Sat 2/27,3:30,Tue 3/02,6:30,Sat 3/06,9:30,Sun 3/07,5:00

It or Her – Written by Alena Smith

“Somewhere between Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure  and The Tell-Tale Heart, this provocative dark comedy explores the basement of a suburban home where Andrew has devoted himself unconditionally to his incredible collection of figurines.  Suffering the loss of The Red One, he seeks to uncover The Ultimate Arrangement before his hideout is invaded, and his dark secret is revealed.”

The Red Room  Wed 2/24,6:30,Fri 2/26,8:00,Sun 2/28,2:00,Mon 3/01,6:30,Thu 3/04,8:00

“With delightful and poignant tales of a Southern Songstress and her gay family, Alex Bond and David Carson read selections from Ms. Bond’s novel and transport you to Dallas 1977, a magical time before HIV/AIDS, but not before ignorance and prejudice. A favorite at the 2008 San Francisco Fringe and the 2009 Fresh Fruit Festival.”

UNDER St. Marks Wed 2/24,6:00,Sat 2/27,7:00,Mon 3/01,9:00,Fri 3/05,6:00,Sun 3/07,2:30

“A physical exploration of limits, perspective and chocolate cake.  Rooted in physical comedy and set to music, it takes a magical look at the mundane where two people stumble into the extraordinary. It peeks at human loneliness and hits up against reality’s glass ceiling to poke about in the breathing space beyond.”

UNDER St. Marks  Fri 2/26,6:00 PM,Sun 2/28,1:00 PM,Mon 3/01,7:30 PM,Wed 3/03,7:30 PM,Fri 3/05,9:00 PM,Sat 3/06,8:30 PM

Directed by: Samantha Jones

“In a narcissistic attempt to win her family’s attention, Abigail decides to perform the greatest stunt of all- attempted suicide. When her childish venture turns into unexpected reality, Abigail finds herself trapped in purgatory – a warped version of her apartment with two exits.  Heaven or Hell. As a result of her foolish mistake, there is atonement and penance to be paid… and time is running out.”

UNDER St. Marks  Thu 2/25,10:30, Sat 2/27,10:00, Sun 2/28,7:00, Wed 3/03,10:30, Sat 3/06,5:30

“KILL THE BAND IS THE ORIGINAL, COMEDY ROCK AND ROLL, ANTI-CABARET! Coinciding with the release of their first concept album, KILL THE BAND takes you on a cleverly comedic, musically theatrical trip through the band’s breakdowns and breakthrough.  Free CD with every ticket!”

UNDER St. Marks, Wed 2/24,10:30 PM,Fri 2/26,10:30 PM,Tue 3/02,7:30 PM,Sat 3/06,10:00 PM,Sun 3/07,4:00 PM

“Rather than abuse her, Leslie’s alcoholic father would buy her shoes, drag race the lawnmower, and burn the neighbor’s bills, while her mother managed a doomed Christian bookstore and prayed in tongues over Leslie’s ailing sister. Leslie’s storytelling navigates a humorously tragic journey through childhood with frighteningly endearing characters.”

UNDER St. Marks Thu 2/25,7:30 PM,Sat 2/27,4:00 PM,Thu 3/04,9:00 PM,Fri 3/05,7:30 PM,Sun 3/07,1:00 PM

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