Say “Commedia dell’Arte” to most Kansas Citians, even theater lovers, and you’ll likely get “what’s that?” in reply. You may never have heard of it before or may have vague recollections of Commedia if you took a high school theater class. Do not let that keep you away from “Snake Oil and Tumbleweeds: A Commedia Murder ‘Mystery’’—simply come and join the fun!
Commedia Kansas City manages to maintain the old Commedia tradition while rendering it fresh and relevant. The result is a hilarious improvisational play that employs the physical comedy, masked stock characters, and familiar scenarios of Commedia dell’Arte.
The villain is evil and the innocent young woman he has set his sights on is suitably hysterical in response. When someone is poisoned, a greedy doctor and his goofy sidekick try to exploit the situation. A couple of grifters arrive in town up to no good. What happens to the body? What is the town doctor up to? Who plans to exploit the confusion for their own profit? And who will save the day? It’s all simultaneously predictable and funny.
If you enjoy physical theater and don’t mind some naughty humor, make time to see “Snake Oil and Tumbleweeds: A Commedia Murder ‘Mystery’” playing at City Stage at Union Station during KC Fringe.
KC Fringe would like to thank the following sponsors:
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