Reviews and Sarah Hague and Solo15 Aug 2006 12:58 pm
Two-Bit Review: “Billy the Mime” – The Player’s Theater
by Sarah Hague
There’s a scene in the film The Aristocrats in which a family comes across a mime on the street. Their squeals of “Oh look, honey! A mime!” are quickly replaced by “Oh my god, honey! What is that mime doing?” when they realize that he is, in fact realistically miming the famously lewd joke.
The mime featured in the film was Billy the Mime, and his act is by turns funny, shocking, socially conscious and sharply critical–all without speaking a word. From a repertoire of around 35 original works, the program this particular night was composed of 12 pieces and began with the charming and creative “A romance,” which featured only the mime’s hands.
At times, whole stories were told, such as in “World War II” when Anne Frank shared the stage with FDR, Hula dancers (victims of the bombing at Pearl Harbor), and Japanese fighter pilots, or in “JFK Jr. We Hardly Knew Ye” which recounted the romances, failed bar exams, and death at sea of America’s favorite son.
The best parts of the evening, however, were when social commentary was mixed with humor and physical dexterity to create a piece with a distinct point of view. “Thomas and Sally: A Night at Monticello” showed founding father Jefferson sneaking out of a posh dinner party to rendezvous with his slave lover; “The Priest and the Altar Boy” subverts our expectations for an ending by not merely implicating the guilty priest, but condemning the entire church hierarchy for giving child molesters a literal slap on the wrist. Perhaps the most unexpectedly touching piece I saw was “Terry Schiavo, Adieu” which began with very dark humor but ended with a reminder that the case should have been about Terry Schiavo the woman, and not Terry Schiavo the cause.
Billy the Mime is a performer of great skill, and his program is guaranteed to both entertain and challenge the audience.