The Happiest Medium » FUNNY A trunk show

FUNNY A Trunk Show – Filled With Heart (FRIGID New York 2011)

Geoffrey Paddy Johnson — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 16:12:02 +0000

Denmo Ibrahim as Mohamed Hosni (Photo by Wesley Cabral)

Titling a show FUNNY A Trunk Show is perhaps somewhat daring, if not theatrical wishful thinking. Some people’s funny is other people’s camp. So it’s a good thing that Denmo Ibrahim’s one-woman show, just opened in the FRIGID New York Festival, knows what it is about, and blithely transcends its title.

On a minimally furnished stage in the basement level theater at Under St. Marks, Ibrahim appears in character as Mohamed Hosni, corpulent, middle-aged, mustachioed, bespectacled Egyptian American, patiently waiting on line to renew his passport. Arriving on stage with a dour, all-encompassing overcoat and suitcases in either hand, we both see and feel the weight of Mohamed’s life as he inches forward in the imaginary line, sweatily yanking at his collar and fanning himself with a handful of forms. Ibrahim’s mouth pulls down into a sour expression of physical discomfort and her eyes peer out over the audience as Mohamed assesses the people around him. The voice, when it comes, bears no trace of the physical drudge we see. “They might at least put in a fan,” he remarks engagingly to no one in particular, openly ready for conversation.

Denmo Ibrahim as Mohamed Hosni (Photo by Wesley Cabral)

And in seconds Ibrahim has established her character and melted the invisible wall between performer and audience. Mohamed – “call me Mo” – starts to speak, opening up about his experience with the passport office. “Do you know how many times this makes it?” he directs at one audience member. “Go on, guess.” “Guess again.” It is, of course, far too many times. We have all had to endure something like this, so we’re all on Mo’s side, but there does seem to be something exceptional, not right, about the number of times he’s been trying to get his simple passport renewal effected.

The play is set in 1983. As his wide-eyed litany of incredulous complaint is interrupted when the passport functionary calls him, we observe what a genial, polite citizen he is, even as more requests for additional forms are passed his way and the indignity of petty bureaucracy rains heavily down on him. Politely he obeys each request, inwardly fuming, but enthusiastically he wants to regale us, his listeners, with the story of his life, emigrating from Egypt with a young wife and a heartful of dreams. Amusingly, openly he gradually unburdens himself to us as the overcoat comes off, the suitcases get stowed, and, eventually, opened.

Mo is an absorbing recounter of his own story, comical in his imitation of others, crafty in his observation of details, jubilant in the personal victories his early life has delivered. But as more forms are continually requested his energy wanes, and less salutary chapters emerge – family issues of disappointment, anxiety, and dread. The effortless bonhomie cracks and urgency builds in the quest for the passport. The suitcases he has been carrying his carefully organized paperwork in, hold other things, and subtly the contents are rendered as memories, episodes, individuals. Like most of us Mo is unable to speak the final truth about his own story, but Ibrahim and collaborators have brought off, for all its physical explosiveness, a delicately wrought denouement, which sees him retreating from the stage, wordlessly clutching a suitcase to his chest, his shredded dignity heart-rendingly resonating before us.

Obviously a work of great personal passion, and developed over time, Ibrahim’s play offers her an opportunity to shine in characterization of a deeply felt, however comically pitched, performance. There is a fine meshing of the tragic and the comic here, and subtle storytelling gives much to review and digest in aftermath. To call it simply a tour de force would be to sell it short, a bit like finally titling the show FUNNY A Trunk Show. Highly recommended.

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FUNNY
A trunk show

Presented by Denmo Ibrahim San Francisco, CA
UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place) $15

Thu 2/24 @ 9pm, Sat 2/26 @ 5:30pm, Sun 2/27 @ 5:30pm, Tue 3/1 @ 7:30pm, Sat 3/5 @ 1pm, & Sun 3/6 @ 4pm

FRIGID New York Festival 2011 will run February 23-March 6 at The Kraine Theater & The Red Room (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Ave and Bowery) and UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1sr Ave and Ave A). Tickets ($10-$16) may be purchased online at www.FRIGIDnewyork.info or by calling Smarttix at 212-868-4444. All shows will run 60 minutes long or less.

FRIGID New York Festival 2011 – Five Questions For: FUNNY A Trunk Show

Karen Tortora-Lee — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 20:56:51 +0000

Welcome back to another installment of FRIGID New York Festival 2011 Q&A! We’ll be running these throughout February until the Festival starts, so be sure to check back to read all about the great shows that will be taking part in the festival. Also – don’t miss the winner-take-all game of Rock Paper Scissors! Today’s Q&A is with Denmo Ibrahim who is the Creator and Performer of FUNNY A Trunk Show.

Inspired by a true story, FUNNY A TRUNK SHOW looks at what we leave behind in our search for the American dream. A smash up of clown, bouffant and immigrant interviews, this 45 minute fast paced epic reveals a heartbreaking tale — a patriotic Egyptian, who will always be seen as an outsider despite his ability to vote. Hilarious, moving, and undeniably real.

FUNNY a trunk show featuring Denmo Ibrahim (Photo by Wesley Cabral)

answers by Denmo Ibrahim, Creator and Performer

Antonio Asks: What makes FRIGID such a warm and welcoming experience for your production?

Well, we’ll have hot cider, chestnuts, and smores by the fireplace in Under St. Marks. So if you’re cold and like sweet things come see FUNNY. So this isn’t exactly true but we’ll have pretzels. Or at least pens. Yes, I’ll bring a pen and your bring yourself and together we’ll feel sweet while we warm ourselves by the idea of fire.

Diánna Asks: What about this play do you feel most drawn to personally, and because of that, what message do you hope the audience walks away with?

Dianna, you beautiful being, I’m glad you asked. Inspired by a true story, FUNNY a trunk show looks at what we leave behind in our search for the American dream — from the perspective of the eternal foreigner living in the U.S. This show smashes traditional clown, vaudeville, and bouffant with real life accounts of an incredibly heartbreaking tale — a patriotic Egyptian immigrant, who will always be seen as an outsider despite his ability to vote. Funny, moving, and undeniably real.

Karen Asks: That’s some title. How did you come up with it – and what does it mean?

Karen — love your question. The title of the show came from a deep desire to make people laugh, to create a piece that was human, funny, and of the now. The trunk show concept dates back to medicine shows which travelled all over the US in the 1800′s and is used now to mean an eclectic collection, a special deal, a one of a kind. So — naturally that made me think, of course! Mohamed’s story must be called FUNNY a trunk show. I’m sure you can see why.

Stephen Asks: You must have a favorite part of your show. What makes it your favorite?

Oh Stephen, thank you for this! I love the costume, the wig, the moustache, the long underwear, the play with the audience, the laughs,the tears, the glasses, and the free dance break. You’ve got 6 chances to see what I mean!

Lina Asks: How much of your show was inspired by true events?

The piece is based on the true story of my father who kidnapped my brother and I at age 5 from NY and brought us to live in the slums of Egypt. Years later, we were rescued by my mother and turned into pretty normal people. Now the story is a a bit depressing but the show is actually very funny so don’t be afraid. FUNNY a trunk show is much more about looking at American through the lens of the foreigner and the hilarious absurdities immigrants go through on the day to day.

THM Bonus Question: If you could play a virtual game of Rock, Paper, Scissors with another FRIGID Show which show would you take on? And what would you throw?

I’d play with the Superwoman show for sure — and I’d wait half a second to see what she threw and then do something else.

Wow, FUNNY, FRIGID doesn’t have a Superwoman show! So I’m going to assume you mean Wonder Woman: A How To Guide for Little Jewish Girls.

Thanks FUNNY A Trunk Show – for participating in The Happiest Medium’s FRIGID New York Festival 2011 Q&A. And for playing our game! You’re officially – well, you found a loophole. So you’re officially the winner. You’re so far the only one’s who’s gamed the game – so congratulations! This is how it works in the crazy world of the VIRTUAL ROCK PAPER SCISSORS TOURNAMENT!

Meanwhile, for the rest of you – don’t forget to check out FUNNY A Trunk Show!