Scene Magazine

'Timing' is almost everything

Overheard while leaving the Hippodrome on opening night of David Ives' comedy "All in the Timing," a gentleman speaking to his companion: "Do you think the actor made up all those words as he went along?"

The man was questioning the language spoken in "Unamunda," one of six one-act plays spoofing language and communication. In it, a youmg woman named Dawn (Nell Page Sexton) [Hippodrome Correction: Dawn is played by Sara Morsey, not Nell page Sexton.] asks a teacher for lessons in Unamunda, the universal language. She theorizes that if everyone spoke this universal language, no one would be lonely.

The teacher offers her a few examples of Unamunda speech. "Harvard-Yu" is "How are you?" "Velcro" is "Welcome." As the lesson continues, Dawn remarks, "It's strange how much I understand." Don, the teacher, answers, "Natooralmississippimentay! Linkwa, pink dama, art armonea. Alla da peepholes enda looniverse cargo a shlong enda harz...pp det shlong arf, Unamunda!"

Translation? "Naturally! Language, sweet lady, is harmony. All the people in the universe carry a song in their heart. And that song is....Unamunda!"

So, the answer to the gentleman's question is "No." The actor who plays Don (Peter Zachari) doesn't make up the words as he goes along. Nor does Dawn, his student, who becomes so enamored of Unamunda, she becomes Don's equal, with the two performing a hilarious mating dance to bastardized words. Their encounter is a gem of writing skill, only some of which can be understood on the Hippodrome stage. Ives' clever word play almost demands reading to be fully appreciated.

But plays are meant to be seen and heard, and so this collection of six spoofs of words and how we use them to understand each other -- or, in most instances, miss understanding each other -- must stand or fall on the abilities of five actors.

Sometimes their timing is off and words are muddled. In some instances, pauses are needed and punch lines are lost. However, for the most part, actors Damon Maida, Sara Morsey, Rusty Salling, Sexton and Zachari are funny and successful in playing multiple roles.

"Words, Words, Words," sets three monkeys: Milton (Zachari), Kafka (Morsey) and Swift (Salling) in a laboratory, where they are doomed to sit at typewriters pounding out words forever or until they come up with "Hamlet." A combination of vaudeville antics, literary jokes and buffoonery, "Words" is accessible, easy humor.

The most sophisticated and brilliantly played one-acter, "Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread" is a transmutation of the difficult composer's music into orchestrated language. The story is just what the title says, but, as spoken and acted with marionette precision by Zachari, Maida, Morsey and Sexton, it comes off with spellbinding theatricality. Nor do you have to know Glass' music to appreciate it.

Much has been written about "All in the Timing" and the profundity of its humor in dealing with society's inability to communicate. While the point does come through, it's not necessary for audiences to extract any deep meanings from the play. It can be enjoyed as pure entertainment. For wordsmiths, it's sheer delight. For theater-goers who want drama and substance, it may disappoint.

"All in the Timing" is original, a rarity in contemporary theater. With Lauren Caldwell's sharp direction, James Morgan's fanciful set, and Marilyn Wall-Asse's cockamamie costumes, the Hippodrome does it justice.

[Hippodrome Note: There are six one-act comedies in "All in the Timing" three of which, "Sure Thing", "The Philadelphia" and "Variations on the Death of Trotsky", were not addressed in this review.]