Poor Bob. Interactive theatre doesn’t bode well for the shy. Improv artists Rodrigo Pool and Carrie Helton Parsons, acting brilliantly as vicious, coked up radio anchors, selected an audience member to answer questions (“HEEEEEY BOB. What’s your favorite household appliance?!”). Bob’s answers shaped the show, and in this case, inspired a dishwasher commercial.
Joiceville 101.3 is about a radio station in the small fictional town of Joiceville, NC that is about to broadcast the end of the world.
The cast of Joiceville 101.3 is the most talented of those I’ve encountered at Fringe. Pool’s antics, among which are hissing at “Blind Corp” co-worker Nigel (Will MacLeod), sneezing cocaine into the audience, and phoning in as Kermit, are varied, hilarious, and ludicrous.
Parsons rambles effortlessly as Pool’s neurotic co-host, switching characters, hurling insults, joining in the drug fest, and giving Pool a constant piece of her mind. MacLeod (a stellar performer) makes lightning speed announcements, impersonates various characters (including a film maker living off his trust fund), and tries, unsuccessfully, to control the uninhibited madness of Parsons and Pool.
Joiceville 101.3 LIVE
by Rodrigo G. Pool Arce
50 minutes
at Gearbox
1021 7th Street NW 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20001
Details and tickets
The program notes say, “The personnel of the Sunshine Station Joiceville 101.3 are not not making a social commentary or parody of the unlikely events regarding the end of days. Consistency, integrity and cupcakes are the core values of any respectable radio station.”
Pool wrote and directed Joiceville 101.3 in collaboration with MacLeod and Parsons. Justin Paschalides provided appropriate and well-timed musical scoring.
An unparalleled piece of theatre, but not for everyone. If you like your theatre ¾ dark unpredictable nonsense, and ¼ biting satire, you might be okay with Pool pointing at you and telling you to go **** yourself. All others, proceed with caution.
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