Love Tapes
Written by Penn Jillette and Steven Banks
Directed by Shade Murray
at Angel Island, 735 W. Sheridan (map)
thru July 6 | tickets: $20 | more info
Check for half-price tickets
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Profane yet endearing, ‘Love Tapes’ a sweet summer hit
The Inconvenience presents
Love Tapes
Review by Catey Sullivan
For a show prominently featuring full frontal nudity of two varieties, there’s something charmingly innocent about The Inconvenience’s production of Love Tapes, a quirky, ribald rom-com by Penn Jillette and Steven Banks.
Technically, Love Tapes is a tricky bit of business. We first meet besotted groupie Melinda (Mary Williamson) as she’s making a video professing her uberlove for the front man of the heavy metal hairband Umlaut (think a third-rate White Snake) . Much of Melinda’s story plays out as she’s filming herself, making the production a technically treacherous blend of live stage and screen action. Murray makes it look seamless, weaving an effective mesh of flesh and blood and videotapes.
Williamson kicks things off in a raw, funny, NC17 monologue, channeling a cross between Fran Drescher, Mae West and Anna Nicole Smith. Melinda’s emotions and motivations are piercingly clear whether you’re watching them on the numerous monitors framing the stage or whether you’re honing in on her formidable real-life presence. On film or off, Williamson nails (so to speak) the heady mix of desperation and joy that comes with an all-consuming crush, making Melinda a character that you’re rooting for and empathizing with throughout.
As for Melinda’s goofy, crazypants (crazy pantless, technically) love tape, it’s simultaneously endearing and cringe-worthy. In little more than the time it takes to play “School Girl Dress” (one of the Spinal Tap-worthy hilariously Umlaut music videos that punctuate the show), we see someone in love from afar and hell bent on getting their beloved to pay attention. As groupies go, Melinda is nothing if not committed. Her love tape includes a topless hula hoop routine and an artfully lipsticked derriere. Her passion is admirable in its single-minded sense of purpose. Who among us is willing to go that uncompromisingly all-out in pursuit of our dreams?
As it turns out, Umlaut’s lead singer isn’t overly moved by the tapes. But they do capture the attention of Umlaut’s guitarist Kevin (Chris Chmelik). In his own way, he’s as goofy, desperate and lonesome as Melinda. Chmelik turns in a hilariously vigorous performance, starting out as a forebodingly tough rocker who is all leather, snarls and heavy metal accessories. But that façade quickly crumbles once he falls for the charms of Melinda’s love tapes. Kevin loses the snarl to reveal the smitten as he eagerly responds to Melinda with a enthusiasm that can’t help but reach her heart.
When the two meet in person, it’s not exactly smooth sailing. It’s one thing to fall in love with a carefully (if crudely) curated representation of someone. It’s quite another to deal with them IRL. The course of true love never does run smooth, and both Melinda and Kevin have more than a few emotional and physical hurdles to overcome.
Murray keeps the pace spritely, and elicits compelling, charismatic and admirably energetic performances from his two-person cast. As for the music videos that punctuate the show (music by Rick Sims, lyrics by Sims, Jillette and Banks) directed by video directors Brian Wiebe, Matt Hooks, Alberta Mendoza and Justin Fiocco) they’re as over-the-top, indulgent and cheesily entertaining as a vintage Behind the Music episode.
At its core, Love Tapes is a tale of star crossed lovers reaching for each other through the walls of pretense and protection that we all don to varying degrees before heading out the door every morning. Funny, raw, sweet and profane, it deserves to be a head-banging hit.
Rating: ★★★
Love Tapes continues through July 5th at Angel Island, 735 W. Sheridan (map), with performances Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays 7:30 and 10pm. Tickets are $20, and are available through their website (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at TheInconvenience.org. (Running time: 90 minutes, no intermission)
Photos by Ryan Bourque
artists
cast
Chris Chmelik (Kevin), Mary Williamson (Melinda)
behind the scenes
Shade Murray (director), Rick Sims (original music), Brian Wiebe,Matt Hooks, Alberto Mendoza, Justin Fiocco (video directors), Nic Jones (lighting design), Richie Fine (costume design), John Holt (set design), Ryan Bourque (photos)
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