Show: 27
Category: Comedy / Solo Show / Audience participation
By: Jake Mierva
Written by: Jake Mierva
Location: Rarig Stoll Thrust
Summary: A solo show about a man who thinks he's been chosen to save the world from Galactus, in the absence of the Fantastic Four.
Highlights: I don't read comic books or watch comic book movies, so I didn't really get the comic references, but that didn't matter. What on the surface is a silly and ridiculous show about superheroes and villains, is really a serious exploration of childhood trauma and mental illness. This character (Norman? Norrin?) claims to have seen Galactus five times in his life, all associated with a moment of trauma. He repeatedly insists that he's not crazy, that Galactus threatening the planet and him being the only one who can save us is real. But really, this is his brain's way of dealing with childhood trauma and feelings of loneliness and abandonment. Jake gives a fearless performance, barreling through the script in a stream-of-consciousness kind of way while slathering himself with what I hope is non-toxic silver body paint, as he becomes the Silver Surfer (which apparently is an actual superhero). We've learned from TCHF that when there's a tarp on stage there will be blood, and now we know that a giant silver tarp covering the Rarig thrust stage means there will be silver paint splatter. Fans of Marvel Comics will appreciate all the superhero talk, millennials will enjoy the 90s/2000s references (Avatar: The Last Airbender and Saved by the Bell), and everyone can relate to family drama (and trauma), feeling like you're not enough, and wanting some control over the uncertainties of life. This is an impressive first solo show by Jake Mierva of Alleged Theatre, with direction by Alleged's J. McIntyre Godwin, and lighting and sound design by Eric Wigham (with some great sound effects, and the recorded voice of Galactus). Last show today at 1!
