JACK GOES BOATING -- SOLID GOLD FUN!

Gabriel Marin teaches Danny Wolohan
how to swim in 'Jack Goes Boating'.
Photo: David Allen

LEE HARTGRAVE REVIEWS JUNE 22, 2009

JACK GOES BOATING – SUPERB!

DEVILISH ACTING IN A HELLUVA PLAY

FINDING A FUNNIER FOURSOME ON STAGE WOULD SEEM TO BE AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK -- BUT NOT FOR THE AURORA THEATRE THAT HAS FOUND FOUR VETERAN ACTORS THAT ARE JUST BRILLIANT!

In “Jack Goes Boating” four souls find and lose themselves, as they agree to disagree in this romantic comedy. There is Jack, who hasn’t had a date in years, maybe because he has his hair in newly acquired dreadlocks. It doesn’t look like a professional job. Jack may be missing a few drawers in his head also, but he has a heart of gold. Yep, he’s a big lug, but a loveable one. Jack finally gets his first date with Connie who is a friend of Lucy who is the girlfriend of Jack’s friend. Jack will do anything to make this date work, even if it means learning how to cook. Connie is just as awkward and her dread locked wannabe boyfriend. He invites her to have dinner out; she would rather have dinner at home. “No one has ever cooked dinner for me”, she says. So Jack learns to cook from a guy who has questionable credentials. Jack is so loveable and klutzy that he forgets to take the price tags off of the oven cloves.

In many ways this play is like a ‘Seinfeld’ segment. The halted dialogue and the crazy meaningless situations are just hysterical. And like “Seinfeld’ – it is a play about something that is nothing. When Jack finally does get Lucy to go to bed with him – she announces: “I’m not ready.” He looks puzzled. –“I’m not ready for Penis penetration”, she blurts out. But that lasts only for a few minutes. She later changes her mind and decides, that indeed – she is ready.

The thing that keeps this boat from going under water, are the fine talents on the stage. It is this absolutely perfect cast that makes it the rollicking salute to love that it is. Also very funny is the addition of cell phones that ring at various inconvenient times. Yes, it’s a Cell phone world.

THE FOUR PHENOMENAL PERFORMERS WILL KEEP YOU MESMERIZED. THEY ARE: Gabriel Marin as Clyde: “Sensational!” Danny Wolohan as Jack: “Captivating and insanely funny!” Beth Wilmurt as Connie: “Terrific!” Amanda Duarte as Lucy: “Perfection!” WINNER! BEST ENSEMBLE CAST!

EXTRAS: Writer: Bob Glaudini. Set Designer --Melpomene Katakolos. “Amazing!’ Light Designer, Jim Cave. “As usual, top drawer!” Sound Design, Cathleen Edwards: “Tour de Force!’ The Director, Joy Carlin: “All Hail The Director!” AT THE AURORA THEATRE. RATING: FOR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest rating) –trademarked-

(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed many articles to the San Francisco Chronicle Sunday Datebook section and produced a long-running Arts Segment on PBS KQED)))

More reviews: www.beyondchron.org

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Filed under: Gabriel Marin, Danny Wolohan, Beth Wilmurt, Amanda Duarte, Joy Carlin, Aurora Theatre, Bob Glaudini, Jack, Boating, Plays, comedy, drama.