There is something both ludicrous and noble about the notion of one man or woman speaking out alone in protest against what s/he considers unfair, either for just him/herself or for the community in general. Remember the famous photograph of one man standing in front of a tank in Tiananmen Square. Remember the names of famous whistle-blowers: Deep Throat (against Nixon), Jeffrey Wigand (against the tobacco industry), Sherron Watkins (against Enron), Gary Webb (against the CIA). And then there is Carlo Delpini, the most noble and most ludicrous of them all. One man speaking two words made it possible for the great traditions of theatre to continue.
As Buntport tells the tale, the emphasis is put much heavier on the ludicrous than on the noble. But nevertheless, it took ba—well, guts, to stand up and perform an act that was sure to land him in jail. Though as he tells it, he just sort of forgot and spoke out loud by accident at the end of a song about roast beef. But land in jail he did and was there subjected to a mock trial conducted by his fellow inmates – also portrayed by Commedia del arte characters such as himself.
The end result is funny, challenging to the audience, brilliantly staged and acted. It is ripe with those flashes of genius and intelligent (but bent) turns of humor we have come to expect in a Buntport production. It is impossible to explain everything that is going on in a Buntport script. They truly defy explanation; you have to be there and see them for yourself. A special pat on the back for this particular production must go for the costuming, lighting design and sound design. Sound effects add a dimension not possible with the spare staging of this show. The del Arte costumes are authentic and multi-functional, bright and ridiculous.
For some, Buntport is an acquired taste; you may not care for or understand the first show you see, but if you go to a second or third, you are hooked. I truly think it has to do with the first show you see. They are all so unique that if the first one tickles your fancy or challenges your understanding, then you will come back again and again. I was lucky – my first two shows were The Odyssey: The Walking Tour and Titus Andronicus: The Musical – two of the funniest and most cleverly staged shows I’ve ever seen. For those of you who have yet to acquire the Buntport addiction, get on the bandwagon. What’s wrong with you???
A Wow factor of 8.5!
-Beki Pineda, June, 2012, Boulder Magazine