'Saturday Night at the Palace'
By Don Shirley
Don’t be intimidated if you can’t decipher some of the Zulu, Afrikaans, or even the South African-accented English in Paul Slabolepszy’s apartheid-era drama. I couldn’t either. But somehow director Dámaso Rodriguez has made sure that most Americans will understand what’s going on. Two young white guys arrive at an isolated burger joint on an apparently broken motorcycle, just as the stand’s black employee (Sean Blakemore) is trying to close. Vince (Shawn Lee) almost immediately reveals his racist colors in barbs against the harried worker, while Forsie (Eric Pargac) tries to mediate. But there’s more to Forsie’s agenda, and less to his sense of justice, than we realize at first. Patience in the first half will pay off at the end. This is the same play, cast, and director that launched Furious Theatre in 2002, but now the play’s combustible ingredients are mixed in a more intimate caldron.
Carrie Hamilton Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena, (626) 792-7116. Furioustheatre.org. Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m.; Sun. at 7:30 p.m. Closes May 31.
Published: 05/07/2008
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