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    Theatre Review: MadLab’s Wall an absurd look at America (with clowns)

    Sometimes a production plays perfect pre-show music, the sounds that provide the vibes to signal the following events. MadLab’s Wall stands out as a nice example of this, mostly because Malvina Reynold’s “Little Boxes” is stuck in my head. For those that cannot remember this song (it also served as the theme song to Weeds), it comments on suburban sprawl, the American dream, and how the systems tend to lead to conformity. I find this a fitting introductory song to their production of J.R. Spaulding Jr.’s absurdist satire Wall: a Product of Resourcefulness and Efficiency in America’s Never-Ending Battle for Absolute Supremacy and General All-Around Kick-Assedness.

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    Stephen Woosley as Mr. Rondo, left to right, Colleen Dunne as Ms. Ricki, Casey May as Mr. Albert in MadLab Theatre's Wall by J.R. Spaulding Jr. Photo by Michelle Batt

    The show centers on Rondo P. Rondo and his assistant Ms. Ricki as they begin to build a wall to symbolize America and its power while simultaneously providing purpose to the people’s lives or as spoken, “finding significance in our otherwise meaningless lives.” After meeting the foreman of the construction crew and discovering the beauty of hierarchical “efficiency,” Ms. Ricki decides to hire herself an assistant, Mr. Albert, so as to better assist Mr. Rondo. Together, these four collaborate in a manner of speaking to construct a monstrosity of a wall. As they begin working though, they face resource depletion, worker shortages, poor planning, ninja clowns, and ultimately, The Man.

    Colleen Dunne makes a superb and welcome Ohio stage debut as Ms. Ricki in one of the best female performances I have seen this year. She seamlessly plays a pragmatic woman that wonderfully balances the cacophonous chattering of her employer, Mr. Rondo. Stephen Woosley finds the funny balance between sincere, pompous, and annoying with Rondo P. Rondo. John Kuhn shines as Foreman, a simple and honest man who believes in the Union and the wall. Casey May portrays the gullible buffoon assistant Mr. Albert and finds the right blend to prevent caricature.

    Stephen Woosley as Mr. Rondo, left to right, John Kuhn as Foreman in MadLab Theatre's Wall by J.R. Spaulding Jr. Photo by Michelle Batt

    In MadLab style, Andy Batt leads a fearless production which may seem so absurd that audiences may grow confused. The ending surely perplexes and intentionally makes the audience feel awkward, which I fully support, because it just works with the sheer silliness that Wall presents. This show rarely “makes sense,” but it is still okay, probably encouraged, to laugh. Plus, the clowns look awesome.

    Wall features a plethora of witty and apt one-liners that accurately capture the absurdity of the state of the nation. The script, while perhaps not palatable to all, is brilliantly written. The show might not change views, which the aforementioned awkward ending eludes to, but it might make the audience think, and it certainly will entertain. To borrow a line from the show: “We don’t want to be educated. We’d much rather be entertained.”

    Wall runs until December 21, at MadLab, 227 N. Third Street. Fri. & Sat. at 8 pm Sun. $12 regular admission; $10 students/seniors. More information can be found online at Madlab.net.

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    Lisa Much
    Lisa Much
    Lisa Much is a recent transplant to Columbus as of June. She comes from Chicago having freelanced as a stage manager and prop designer. She holds a BA in Sustainable Theater from Green Mountain College in Vermont.
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