BROOKLYN BUZZ: Bamboozled? Not these players!

August 26, 2011 Heather Chin
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Ever wondered what would happen if your vivid daydreams could betranscribed into reality before they fade back into yoursubconscious? Have you ever thought that your lively debates aboutcurrent events would make great fodder for a screenplay ormusical?

Well, wonder no more, as for the next few weekends, the cast andcrew of the nonprofit Theater for the New City (TNC) will bebringing that blend of dream and reality to the stage in Brooklynand elsewhere, with Bamboozled, or the Real Reality Show, a fun,imaginative and lively musical that lampoons the state of modernsocial and political norms while simultaneously celebrating thehopefulness that remains.

‘Bamboozled’ is really fun and has got a lot of vaudeville andBroadway-type music in it, said Crystal Field, TNC co-founder anddirector/writer of the show, which debuted on August 6 at TNC’sstudio at East 10th Street and First Avenue in Manhattan.

It’s a unique story of a postman who doesn’t know about what’sgoing on in the world except that he’s much loved in theneighborhood. But by the end of the story, he knows all about theproblem of nuclear power and hydrofracking, and he learns aboutcivil unrest and the ability to protest.

The 33-member cast, 15 crew members and a live band will bebringing the energy, masks, scenery, choreography and seven musicalnumbers from Bamboozled to Sunset Park this Saturday, August 27.The show is free.

The tale of hero-takes-on-the-forces-of-evil will strike viewersas familiar, while the comedic commentary – the end features aPokemon battle – about the reality and non-reality of currentpolitical discourse will give it an air of edgy relevance.

As TNC describes on its website, The Postman (actorMichael-David Gordon) meets a Devil (actor Mark Marcante) whoreveals to him the secret of the Virtual World: it’s a floor showthat bamboozles us with sexy games and phony news while evil powersgamble with our future.

The musical does have a message of environmental conservancy,social awareness and community activism, but it is also a goodtime and makes you think, but not too hard, said Field, whoplays Mother Nature towards the end of the show, her briefappearance still full of laughs as seeds make their way up herskirt, only to sprout into corn and a snap pea.

We have a song in the play called ‘Water’ and it’s beautiful,said Field. In the middle, people come out with Thermoses ofwater, and give people little cups and a drink of water. Andthey’re all dressed in water outfits.

At last week’s performance on the Coney Island Boardwalk,hundreds of people came out to the show and CD release party atRuby’s Bar and Grill. The album is available for purchase on thecompany’s website as well as on iTunes, CD Baby, BarnesAndNoble.comand other music websites.

This is TNC’s 35th annual street theater show and will bepresented through September 18, with music composed byJoseph-Vernon Banks.

In addition to their summer shows, of which at least three arealways held in Brooklyn, TNC performs 30 to 40 public showsthroughout the year, hosts a reading series and holds a Dream UpFestival for young and emerging writers. They also participate inseveral other festivals and free ticket programs.

This is our gift to the city in the summer, explainedField.

This weekend’s show can be reached from the Sunset Park entranceat the corner of Sixth Avenue and 44th Street. For a full list ofperformances, visithttp://www.theaterforthenewcity.net/street.htm.

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