“SHAZAM! It’s A Hit!”
Starring: Alyn Darnay, Jasmine Fluker, Scott Genn, David Hemphill, Hugh Murphy, Naja Corbett, Jason Dewitt, and Gordon Diaz.
Directed by: John Manzelli
Genre: Comic Book, Drama
By John Delia
I have seen a lot of stage plays in my time, but never one performed comic book style. Macon City now playing at The Naked Stage on the campus of Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida takes a chance on the tricky art form and comes up a winner.
Intriguing, emotional and entertaining the play moves along at a fast pace telling the story of Dr. Wells (Darnay) a guilt ridden man who has a deep seeded secret that continues to haunt him while he deals with an exceedingly hard life. In the meantime the city’s Mayor has been re-elected to a fifth term in office to continue his reign of terror. But the Dr. and a Madman name Grimes have other plans in mind. All the while Jamie (Genn) and Frankie (Hemphill) are cooking up a scheme that could change their lives. In a city torn by evil and deceit there are no likeable heroes.
The characters in Macon City are rife with angst and secrets and actors portraying them are top notch. Darnay is remarkable as the anguish ridden Doctor who will do anything to save his daughter from a lonely existence. His tortured
mind caused by a freak of nature to his daughter shows in his face, his actions and delivery as he toils to find a cure.
Murphy plays two roles in this comic book world, a split of reality and evil; first the questionably honorable mayor then the villain Grime. Murphy brilliantly shows both sides of the character coin.
Even performances by the whole cast makes the show a perfect evening of entertainment. Narrating the scenes is Caption played by Jasmine Fluker the thread that strings the story together, while David Hemphill and Scott Genn set the mood that gets darker and darker as the play comes to a devilish end.
Direction by John Manzelli is creative, imaginative and displays his ability to choose a great cast. Taking a comic book and bringing it to life takes a strong sense of vision in sets, costumes and characters. And in this 45-seat auditorium with a stage the size of a living room it would take close to miracle to pull it off, but he does. In tandem with his set designer Antonio Amadeo, costumer Leslye Menshouse, sound designer Matt Corey and stage manager Katie Siegle, Manzelli incorporates special pull out doors, screen petitions and three talented stagehands dubbed Pencil, Ink, and Color to pull off the non-stop show without a hitch.
Performances of Macon City are currently scheduled for Thursday through Sunday until November 29, 2009, but may be extended by demand. For tickets log on to www.nakedstage.org and with the limited number of seats, performances have been selling out.