Review: Raise a Glass High to Monomoy's JOHNNY ON A SPOT

Have you ever been high on what life is and all it throws at you - to become charged by the excitement and wonder of it all, followed by the mayhem, the confusion and the constant need to keep up with the bundles of mess that almost seem too perfectly destined to fall right in your lap? Have you ever dealt with the absurdly funny truth of a Senate-hopeful (also a frisky and unrestrained drunkard) gone missing on the day he is meant to win over the votes of all who believe he is the perfect man for the job? Probably not, which makes it all the funnier to watch how such a wacky plot, saturated with a conservatively (hah) witty sense of humor circling around an almost irresolvable bunch of problems, has now come to the Monomoy Theatre in the form of Johnny on a Spot.

Monomoy, in association with the University of Hartford/the Hartt School from which many of the theatre's actors and staff hail, opened Johnny on a Spot only Tuesday and has already proven itself to be the perfect reason to bring its incredibly family together one last time to round off yet another successful summer season. Written by Charles MacArthur and directed by Michael John McGann, the 1942 farce Johnny on a Spot provokes just the right amount of laughs, followed by many head-shaking moments and mass hysteria that the audience knows can and will be righted sooner or later...just how that will come about makes both the show's plot and the added anticipation comparable weight.

If you happened to be around last summer for Monomoy's production of Ken Ludwig's Lend Me a Tenor, this show particularly reminiscent of that: it is of that absurd, "how the heck did we get ourselves into this!" sort that starts out as someone else's sort of-fault, and through a series of quick-fire and questionable choices becomes a smorgasbord of feeding lie upon lie until some sort of conclusion is reached. This kind of show really does not compel the audience to figure out how everything will eventually work out, but it does require a talented, momentum-keeping group of actors who can portray characters who never receive a moment's rest from what the plot requires them to do: basically, keeping the ensuing chaos funny. Sounds pretty simple, right? It really is anything but easy, but this brilliant cast of Johnny on a Spot pulls it off with as much gusto as I (and many others) have come to expect of those on the Monomoy stage. Did I mention the show is wonderfully funny, too?

Johnny on a Spot has a rather slow start - the audience is not necessarily aware of what the comings and goings on stage are all about - what the characters on stage are talking about. You may question whether the dialogue was ever going to extend itself to the audience and not simply be some sort of inside joke to those on stage, yet all of a sudden, bam! - there is an undeniably funny plot that you immediately latch onto. The Senatorial candidate and current Governor has gone missing on Election Day. While everyone believes he is in isolation writing his speech as is sometimes the case, he is actually discovered to be too inebriated at his promiscuous love interest's home to even stand, let alone show up for his live broadcast; he is then pronounced dead.

In a continuous series of quick-thinking actions made by a team consisting of the Governor's campaign manager Nicky Allen, his fiancé, a judge, a doctor (who is also the unwilling candidate for Governor), a sexy lover, a belligerent niece and an array of other colorful characters, there is a continuous battle to keep the Governor's death a secret while convincing the world he is as alive as ever and eager to win the upcoming collection. The strategic lunacy (at least hopefully) Allen sets in motion is nothing short of fascinating to watch, and indeed nothing short of chaotic, which makes Johnny on a Spot so damn fun and intriguing.

Johnny on a Spot follows the happenings within the not so confidential-confines of a public figure's office, even if some things are supposed to be happening there aren't while the things actually happening there are not meant to be doing so. It is just so fascinating a story to follow: from news reporters breaking through the locked doors of the Governor's office to them being framed for his murder because of their intrusion to every other wacky thing that happens on this stage, it is a story that I have enjoyed immensely and would definitely go to see again if given the chance. I am always amazed by Monomoy's productions and have become quite the fan of everything I see produced, but this show really impressed me because of how exciting a show it is. The audience must stay on its toes and follow the numerous plans that ultimately attempt to get everyone out of the debacle that is the Governor's very untimely death, but while watching the show, I noticed how content I was to just watch and listen and enjoy the talents (and rising anger) of these actors in everything they did.

Since I cannot possibly mention everyone on the cast, I'm going to do what I always do and say, truthfully, that the entire Monomoy team this summer is truly spectacular. Each actor contributed immensely to this and every production I was able to attend this summer, and I am happy not only because I had the chance to witness everything unfold, but also for these actors who will undoubtedly go far in their careers. A very good job indeed with this one!

Credit must also be given to those responsible for set (Kevin Nelson), costumes (Jelene Antanasijevic), lights (Theresa Kelly), sound (Andrew Garvis) and of course the Production Stage Manager Max Rosenberg for making sure this show is a particularly memorable one.

Johnny on a Spot opened at Monomoy Theater (located at 776 Main Street in Chatham) on August 23rd and will have a very limited run thru the 27th. Tickets are $27-$29 and may be purchased in person at the box office, by calling (508) 945.1589 or by visiting http://www.monomoytheatre.org/. The performance schedule is Tuesday thru Saturday at 8:00 p.m., with a Thursday matinee at 2:00 p.m. Refreshments are available outside during intermission.

Enjoy the show!

Photo Credit: Dawniella Sinder

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