Given our divisive culture and the omnipresence of superheroes in our movie theaters, along comes this light-hearted riff on the whole hero-villain dichotomy, including who decides who is acting on behalf of “good.” Andrew Brockmeyer’s new play (Super) Friends feels just right for a contemporary and funny take on the whole super hero culture.
Frank, a/k/a Quantum Man (Nate McGraw), finds that being a super hero doesn’t pay the bills (but is evidently too time consuming to allow for an alter ego job). So, he reluctantly cuts expenses by moving into a group home with millennial Aaron (Chat Burst), his not-a-resident-but-almost-always-present cheerful girlfriend Vanessa (Shaina Higgins), and Emma.
As revealed early on (Super)’s Fringe page, Emma (Jordyn Nicole) is also Quantum Man’s formidable nemesis Hellion! (which in an earlier generation would have led to a certain character proclaiming “Holy coincidence, Batman!”) Hellion is carrying out an evil plot in the service of Mephistopheles (the unseen Devil) with the help of demonic minion Asmodeus (Madalaina D’Angelo).
To answer the most important question about any comedy, (Super) Friends is funny in just about every way a comedy can be funny. The basic housemate conflict story is funny, the tongue-in-cheek satire of super characters works, and the acting is spot-on. There are a few flat spots in the story and the humor may be a tad broad, but Brockmeyer’s story gets a loving and well-acted production.
Nate McGraw nails the heroic and slightly pretentious super hero vibe of Quantum Man, aided by a hilarious costume from Kirsten Grady (who also carries along the plot as a frequently used voice of a broadcast journalist). He also interacts well with all of the other characters, ranging from the romantic tension he has with the formidable Emma and his supporting computer partner, hilariously voiced by Zack Walsh.
Another standout is Chat Burst, the lovable stoner dude who functions as head of the household (and who frequently carries a sizeable doobie). He takes a familiar character type and gives it that indescribable comic twist that is easier to admire than to replicate.
The plot details really aren’t that important, but the story involves Quantum Man’s efforts to stop Hellion from a causing a cataclysmic disaster in Times Square. (Note to playwright: why are super hero stories so frequently set in Manhattan? Doesn’t DC deserve its own brush with comic book disaster in an original play written for the Capital Fringe Festival?) However, the sharing of living quarters leads to a character confrontation that is handled on a slightly more serious level that still leads to a predictable feel-good conclusion.
Director Danny Romeo succeeds in keeping the fun moving in this light-hearted story. While (Super) Friends doesn’t achieve the consistent inspired silliness of a good Monty Python skit, it is likely to prove to be one of the most enjoyable and popular Fringe Festival offerings.
(Super) Friends is a reliable choice to put a smile on the face of any festival-goer.
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(Super) Friends by Andrew Brockmeyer. Directed by Danny Romeo. Featuring Chat Burst, Madalaina D’Angelo, Kirsten Grady, Shaina Higgins, Nate McGraw, Jordyn Nicole, and Zack Walsh. Movement Directed by Marshall Betz. Costumes Designed by Kirsten Grady. Produced by John-Nicholas Walsh. Presented by AnyStage Theater. Reviewed by Steven McKnight.
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