The laughter is
purely involuntary. You can’t help yourself. Dozens of wacky characters
conspire to have you in stitches in New Repertory Theatre’s outrageous FULLY
COMMITTED (playing through Dec. 30th). Gabriel Kuttner reprises his astonishing,
award winning performance of two years ago as all the staff, diners (and more)
at Becky Mode’s fictitious four-star, very expensive New York restaurant.
Director Bridget
Kathleen O’Leary cleverly edges the dingy office where Sam fields reservations
into a tight, little corner of the New Rep downstairs space, making us
painfully aware of Sam’s lack of wiggle room, in every sense of the phrase. Even
before the play starts, Deb Sullivan’s set tells us this job is no picnic.
Poor Sam is at the
mercy of an imperious chef, unreliable co-workers and unrelenting phone calls.
The entitled rich do not recognize ‘no’ for an answer when Sam explains that
they are fully booked. He calmly accepts insult after insult and soldiers on. He’s
kind to elderly ladies with complaints and he endures endless instructions for
celebrities: “No dairy, no fat, no soy, no sugar, no salt” and would you
believe “no female wait staff!”
Kuttner is
hilarious as an eighty year old dowager one second and as a back biting,
condescending French Maitre D (Is there any other kind?) the next. Just pulling
off the character switches is a feat of strength and Kuttner does it
brilliantly. FULLY COMMITTED is a must see. Make your reservation before it’s
fully booked!
