BULLET FOR ADOLF
August 13, 2012
Good ‘ole boys carouse, get into mischief, and gobs of mayhem punctuated by politically incorrect, albeit quite funny, remarks in Woody Harrelson & Frankie Hyman’s new comedy “Bullet for Adolf.” In search of work, Zach (Brandon Coffey) takes over the position of foreman at a construction site run by the steely-spined German, Jurgen. Unwittingly, Zach displaces the dandy slacker Dago-Czech (who repeats his name over and over again with intense, belligerent pride) thus breaking-up the Dago-Czech (Lee Osorio) and Frankie (Tyler Jacob Rollinson) duo.
Add to this mix Jurgen’s free-spirited daughter Batina (Shannon Garland), two professional African American ladies Shareeta (Marsha Stephanie Blake) – who wields a mean left hook—plus the smooth, Jackie (Shamika Cotton) and you get an emotionally volatile, brawling comedy.
Jurgen (Nick Wyman), a militaristic, single father dotes on his daughter and a prized German World War II gun. His strictly organized household is upended by the surprise attendance of Frankie, Dago-Czech, Shareeta and Jackie at his daughter’s birthday celebration. Mayhem is unplugged.
Director Woody Harrelson (of “Cheers” fame) affectionately imbues life into the small-town, large characters mired in daily complications, made even more complicated by the reigning “Animal House” mentality.
At one point the gun is stolen, and Jurgen means to get his “pound of flesh.” Fingers point to the loosely charming and easy moving, African-American, Frankie. In fact, the highly physical show demands the characters speak as much through their lines as through their movements. Each cast member assumes a different physical persona---Frankie, creamy and loose-limbed; Zach, bunchy and klunky; Dago-Czech, wiry and staccato; Shareeta, compact and punchy; Jackie, lean and lyrical; Batina, petit and perky; and Jurgen, ram-rod straight.
Appearing at the New World Stages, “Bullet for Adolf" is a genially funny, energetic summer entry.
EYE ON THE ARTS, NY -- Celia Ipiotis
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