Tour de Farce

Tour de Farce is proof that playwriting is no easy task. Its lack of craft, cohesion, and contrast make it seem like a self indulgent, tedious conversation among close friends who aren’t including us.

Peter (Willem Krumich) wakes his roommate Ryan (Sha Golanski) in the middle of the night to ride his bike in the living room, and watch the Tour de France on television, claiming he’s in it this year.

Later on (in a cheap and not very surprising plot twist), we find out why.

The two characters’ stories unfold and have very little to do with each other. Golanski rides the bike in a surprisingly moving sequence near the end, but three minutes of honesty and heart can’t salvage 50 minutes of aimless chitchat.

Situated behind an ambiguous brown door on the third floor of the building, the grungy feel of Gearbox functions well as their Lower East Side NYC apartment.

Golanski and Krumich are talented performers. Krumich is particularly compelling and believable as the sarcastic Peter. Debra Ovall as the Reporter seems forced and random. Her character does not add anything to the plot.

Playwright and Director Kevyn Settle has a story to tell. That’s admirable, but it’s not enough.

Take me to the DCTS 2014 Capital Fringe Guide