Our plans to run a review of Blue Monkey Theater’s Altar Boyz in
this column were thwarted by Snowpocalypse 2008—Blue Monkey was
one of numerous companies to cancel shows last weekend, as per the
showbiz mantra “The show must go on, unless something inconvenient
happens.” In lieu of a review, here’s a hastily assembled and by no
means comprehensive list of personal highlights from the last year that
will probably be of no interest whatsoever to anyone not actively
involved in the theater scene. Enjoy! (And thanks a lot,
Snowpocalypse.) ALISON HALLETT
Best Argument for the Ongoing Relevance of Theater
A largely improvised format and a sharp cast lend Action Adventure
Theatre’s Fall of the House a flexibility and immediacy lacking
in most other mediums: The ongoing, serialized hipster soap opera’s
post-election show saw characters reacting movingly to Obama’s
election.
Best Balls
Well, okay… they were the only balls. The Third Rail’s Tim True
went full-frontal in the company’s first show at their new home in the
World Trade Center, the excellent Dead Funny.
Best Attempt to Turn Portland into Something It’s Not
The Bridgetown Comedy Festival is valiantly trying to establish
Portland as a destination for touring standup comedians, banking on the
fact that this city is full of sophisticated, risk-taking individuals
willing to unplug from Hulu and take a chance on live entertainment.
Best of luck.
Best Snacks
In addition to fresh-baked cookies and salted cantaloupe, Sojourn
Theatre’s Built (which ran during the TBA Festival) offered
tightrope walking and genuine insights about the nature of urban
living. Bet you’re bummed you missed it.
Best Use of Puppets
Snark alert! In The Long Christmas Ride Home, Theatre
Vertigo’s puppets were more charismatic than some local actors I could
name.
Best Revisioning of a Beloved Northwest Classic
Aaron Posner’s adaptation of Sometimes a Great Notion was a
beautiful thing, and the oft-maligned (by me) Portland Center Stage
gets points for hosting its world premiere. Runner-up: Tonya and
Nancy, The Rock Opera.