‘Scavengers’ an exaggerated comedy full of fun

Luigi Pirandello came up with an interesting idea for a play in 1921 called "Six Characters in Search of an Author." Wyoming playwright Jaime Cruz's "Scavengers in the Mother of Chaos," now at the Las Vegas Little Theatre Studio, could just as well be called "Four Characters in Search of a Play."

At first, we think we're watching a simple comedy about a group of young male slackers involved in one way or another with a liquor store. Neil (Will Klundt), Tommy (Jon D'acunto) and Sean (Johanzen Palomata) are dishonest clerks, while Stinky (Tommy Watanabe) is a local alchy who comes in frequently to buy the cheapest liquor he can find. The characters often talk about their unfocused lives the way the convenience store clerks and customers did in Eric Bogosian's "SubUrbia."

Just when you may think Cruz's writing stale, the characters begin commenting on their roles in the script. One regrets that he's just a supporting player. Another takes delight that he's about to recite a monologue. Another regrets that he's being forced to talk about objective and plot. Before long, the actors begin switching characters, and we're not sure who's just been murdered or why and how much of the play is "life" and how much just a script. It all leads to a tidy little moral, which doesn't upstage the evening's lightness.

The writing needs a lot of tightening, but it has solid structure, and Cruz achieves a genuine sense of lunacy. Things start off shaky because director Laura Neubauer tries to force the laughs too early. But once things get going, she finds an often perfect playing pitch. Neubauer makes effective use of the small playing space, on the stage and in the audience area. She has a fine visual sense. But her biggest contribution is her ability to achieve a strong sense of camaraderie among her capable cast.

D'acunto is especially memorable as the simpleton but exuberant Tommy (among other characters). When he dominates the stage with an over-the-top demonstration of hysteria, you sense not only his character's joy in being given such an attention-getting moment, but also D'acunto's joy in being an actor. He doesn't show you the hard work that's obviously gone into his performance. You sense only the fun. And in exaggerated comedy, it's hard to ask for more.

Anthony Del Valle can be reached at DelValle@aol.com. You can write him c/o Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas NV 89125.