Whistler in the Dark’s THE AFTER-DINNER JOKE
(running through Nov. 24th) is a treat for Caryl Churchill fans. Her
comic revue of sardonic skits and sketches (originally a teleplay from 1978) royally
sends up our priggish notions about charity. Since Churchill is English, her
most savage satire is aimed at the Brits. Witness one character’s convoluted
logic on the subject of giving: If you don’t give to them (substitute India, Africa,
any needy former colony), he reasons, they’ll be angry and come here to shoot
you. “If you do give, they’ll be grateful and stay where they belong, wishing
they were still part of the British Empire.”
Churchill utilizes a Monty Python-esque style
of humor to hammer home the utter ridiculousness of accepted (especially in the
U.S.) theories like “charitable economics,” wherein poor countries are given
financial aid so they can turn around and spend it on American imports, thus
increasing our GNP. Churchill has us laughing at the absurdity of big charity
enterprises which spend millions on ad campaigns and operating costs. We’re
amused by the comic exaggeration but it’s the resigned laughter of knowing,
sadly, that this theater of the absurd is very real.
Marvelous gambits, like “Hoola hooping for
the Hungry” or “Pacifist Kidnappers” give ample opportunity for director Meg
Taintor’s talented cast to show off its versatility. The gender bending
characterization has chameleon Lorna Nogueira as a greedy, elderly captain of
industry and the hilarious Bob Mussett as a harried mom with a non-complying
baby. Meredith Stypinski is wonderfully dense as the naïve fundraiser, while
Melissa Barker natters on about snakes. Joseph D. Freeman has a nifty quick
change from crackpot little old lady to Mission Impossible operative, not to
mention his musical skills with several instruments.
Kelly Leigh David provides the delightful
movies/projections, especially the “Pie a politician in the Face” bit and the
old time silent movie (with Freeman delivering the requisite “tied to the train
track” piano accompaniment and PJ Strachman supplying the fading light).
