HOLLYWOOD FRINGE REVIEW: THEATER OF THE ABSURD WITH ‘PUNCH AND JUDY’ AND ‘LAMPREY: WEEKEND OF VENGEANCE’
Lamprey: Weekend of Vengeance
Lamprey: Weekend of Vengeance
Written by Peter FluetDirected by Victor Isaac
Fringe Premiere
Lynn Alvarado (Carrie Keranen) is an L.A. detective who possesses more than a little enthusiasm for her job, much to the chagrin of her long-suffering husband, Chris (Pete Caslavka). She fancies herself a supercop who demands to be referred to as “the Lamprey” – yes, one of those eel-like creatures with a mouthful of sharp fangs. This moniker constantly elicits eye-rolling responses from her coworkers and the department chief (Peter Fluet), who also happens to be her father.
When Lynn’s partner is gunned down in a stakeout gone bad, Lynn swings into action to avenge her death. There’s just one problem: Chris has purchased non-refundable tickets for a Disney cruise that departs on Monday, so she only has one short weekend to achieve her vengeance.
LampreyFluet’s rapid-fire script mashes up cop shows and exploitation films into an explosively hilarious hour. Director Victor Isaac makes sure the pacing never flags, and the capable cast delivers on his efforts. The show is packed with shouting matches, gunfights, brawls and lots of physical comedy. The dialogue is brilliantly absurd, containing more belly laughs than 60 minutes should be able to hold.
Keranen is a wild-eyed and rubber-limbed Lamprey, delivering a comic performance that could easily double as an aerobic workout. Caslavka makes a fine straight man as husband Chris, who fruitlessly tries to keep her antic behavior under control. Fluet has written a plum role for himself as both the Lamprey’s boss and her father, given to obscenity-laden screaming matches with his daughter, only to suddenly make a 180-degree turn and calmly remind her to return her mother’s casserole dish.
The rest of the cast – Maya Imani Estephanos, Amanda Blake Davis, Glenn Stanton, Derek Mehn, Dana DeRuyck and Marshall Givens – also contribute mightily to the piece, playing all of the various characters who get churned in the Lamprey’s unstoppable wake.
Lamprey: Weekend of Vengeance is naughty, violent fun that moves at lightning speed. It’s primo Fringe. There are still three opportunities to catch it – June 18, 20 and 24 at Sacred Fools Theatre – and it’s highly recommended that you grab your tickets for one of those dates.
