STRANGE'S IS IRREVERENT BUT FUN
Beacon News - June 11, 1993

Watching a Strange's show is like babysitting somone's
hyperactive child - a bundle of dangerous energy
from which you dare not look away.

The local sketch comedy troupe, founded only last year
by twenty-something Eric Schwartz, has proven with 
"Bram Stoker's Buttafuocco", their third revue, that they
are a comedic force to be contend with.

The show consists of over thirty short sketches, or 
blackout, ranging in length from 5 seconds to 5 
minutes. The subject matter is diverse. Targets include
television game shows, James Bond movies, a 
police line up and even, in a round about way,
social commentary on topics like the Vietnam 
War.

What makes Buttafuocco work is both the chemistry 
between the actors and the scope of their material. 
Some pieces are clever, some just stupid. But nearly
all of them are funny. And all cast members get a 
chance to showcase their talents.

Schwartz was hilariously over-the-edge as Uncle 
Corbin, a visiting relative with a condition which
caused him to take every innocent comment as
sexually suggestive.

Ken Ruffalo played many of the less outrageous
parts with comedic savvy, getting big laughs as a
frustrated contestant on the game show Password
with an unintelligible Bob dylan as his celebrity
partner.

Corey Witte, an aspiring film-maker, presented 
perhaps the first public performance of his
short film (Learning To Fly), starring Schwartz
and Ruffalo. Unfortunately something went wrong
with the projector and the technical personnel had
to stop and restart the film every 5 seconds or so. 
It is to Witte's credit that this didn't hamper the 
audience's enjoyment of the flick.

Josh Gilbert stood out in even minor roles, presenting
many completely different characterizations
including a hilariously inept hypnotist and a head-
banging DJ stuck on an easy listening station.

Michelle Peart, the only female in the troupe, was
given precious little to do by the show's male 
writers. But she showed an improved sense of
timing and increased self confidence.

A favorite sketch was the police line up in which
the criminals, instead of fearing identification,
treated the situation like an acting audition, 
trying to one up each other and yelling "where's
my motivation."

Another was a scene in which Schwartz played a
toy designer pitching sick 90's concepts to his 
boss. When the latter stated that he thought 
"Vietnam Roy, The Expendable American Soldier"
was a bit harsh for a children's toy, Schwartz
replied, "Yeah, harsh. And fun!"

The show, which included a few musical numbers,
ran a little long and a few les humorous bits could
be cut.

Although the show occasionally veered toward a light
shade of blue, it was surprisingly free of 
explicit material.

During the intermission, Mike Vertenten sand several
pleasant, original songs, accompanying himself
on acoustic guitar.

Shows like this are always hit and miss, but Strange's
hit more times than not. If you like to laugh and 
don't mind feeling a little guilty about it afterward, go
see it. But you might want to down a six-pack
of Jolt cola first, so you can keep up.