BWW Reviews: David Engel Scores with FULLY COMMITTED in PS

Fully Committed
by Becky Mode
directed by Joel Bishoff
Coyote StageWorks @
Palm Springs Woman's Club Theatre
through March 27

As I sat through Becky Mode's Fully Committed for the third time, I realized just how many meanings the title has. First, as it takes place in a restaurant, fully committed means that lunch or dinner reservations are completely booked. Secondly, it indicates that a person is 100% devoted or dedicated to the work. Then, thirdly, due to a stressful position, perhaps that person is now certifiable and should be thrown in the loony bin. I mean, who could put up with such intolerable crap from management and clientele for such an extended period of time? An extreme analysis, right? There are certainly many young actors who work as receptionists or waiters and somehow allow themselves to be put through the wringer. They complain, but they stay. Nothing ever improves, but out of necessity, they stay loyal and do not leave. A lot to examine, and through Becky Mode's play, via the character of Sam (David Engel), the audience learns just how far a worker must go to find a little happiness and contentment in his menial job. With a superb performance from fully committed Engel and taut direction from Joel Bishoff, this second production of Coyote StageWorks current season hits the jackpot.

There are two difficult challenges in playing the role of Sam. First, the actor must be able to handle 38 different character voices, many with foreign accents and others with undeniably distinct speech patterns. The second is remembering the order of the phone calls, as the phone rings off the hook from the moment the curtain goes up to the final exit. Engel, with boisterous energy and charisma, deals with both issues brilliantly. There's never a dull moment with his vocal gymnastics, quick wit and razor sharp delivery. He never misses a beat. Apart from essaying every character on board including the chef, maitre d, waitress, assistants and an eclectic assortment of guests, Engel manages to expertly convey Sam's transition from irritated toad to resourceful manipulator of everyone around him. Newfound acceptance and happiness with his second-rate job comes from his at-long-last refusal to be stepped on. In order to nail that audition, get that Christmas vacation time, pocket that extra dough and be treated with just a little bit of respect he must learn to control and use, use, use his clients and staff as connections to success. By play's end his potential for growth in the outside world has amazingly improved.

Chuck Yates has designed a pleasantly functional set of a cramped basement office in a New York restaurant.

Fully committed is a fun 75-minute ride that will make you sit up and take notice of your own work environment and how to make it work most effectively for you. Taking advantage, or seizing entitlement, is better than being taken advantage of. With a joyously vibrant performance from David Engel, this keenly written play doubles its entertainment value.

(photo credit: Dawn Wilson)

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Coyote StageWorks has the following mission:
This not-for-profit company is dedicated to advancing theatre as a vital art form in the desert communities of the Coachella Valley. There is hope to provide a forum for thought provoking, entertaining and culturally significant works in an environment that nurtures the creativity of the individual and the enrichment of the community.
Coyote StageWorks is looking for grant writers.
Contact its founding members @ 760-318-0024 or visit:
CoyoteStageWorks.org
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Congratulations to Desert Star Award winners
director Larry Raben and
Best Production of 2010 Greater Tuna.

 

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