HYSTERICS MADE HYSTERICALLY FUNNY: Surprise Theater pulls laughs out of meltdowns

By Candace Chaney

Contributing Theater Critic

Sometimes you just need a good cry. Other times, you just need a good old hysterical freakout.

To induce a good cry, consider renting Where the Red Fern Grows.

To vicariously enjoy the emotional meltdowns of others, consider attending Balagula Theatre’s Surprise Theatre presentation of Nouveau Americana this weekend at Natasha’s Bistro.

An offbeat, twisted take on American life, the evening is awash in the comedy of the tragedies revealed by the so-called little things in life. Who hasn’t pondered the futility of life while searching for their keys? Could something as mundane as your dirty laundry reveal your deepest fears and flaws?

While Surprise Theatre involves dinner at Natasha’s (reservations are highly recommended), it is radically different from most notions of “dinner theater.” No single play is presented in a traditional sense, but rather a series of short, 10-minute scenes erupt unexpectedly and intermittently in different parts of the restaurant throughout dinner.

This weekend’s “eruptions” are as scrumptiously unpredictable and wickedly delightful as Surprise Theatre patrons have come to expect.

Because the plays erupt from unexpected places and people in the restaurant, I won’t ruin any surprises by divulging the show’s secrets, including the plot or even the names of the actors involved. But I can tell you that each scene includes a major, hysterical breakdown of some variety, which, sadistic as it might sound, is just plain funny. And funny as it is, it is made funnier still by the more serious themes woven into the material. From the plight of feminism to reading the fine print of one’s best-kept secrets, the show’s impact is enriched by the intelligence of its humor.

It is a mark of the event’s surprise sophistication that deeper, self-revelatory themes linger long after the crisp, refreshingly smart delivery of its wildly hilarious material.

Plus, there is something freeing about watching other people make a public spectacle of their emotional meltdowns while you casually sip a glass of wine.

At one point, it occurred to me that any dining guest could just stand up and deliver her own impromptu soliloquy, have her own very extemporaneous creative freakout right there, perhaps involving other patrons, and no one would know it wasn’t part of the show. Well, except for the real actors. Talk about a surprise!

For the most part, though, the dining audience on Wednesday’s opening night managed to contain any outbursts to the hysterical laughing variety, rather than the hysterical psychic break variety.

Some did seem in danger of flopping out of their chairs when jolted by particularly potent shock waves of humor, such as the uproarious arrival of a larger-than-life pop culture legend in the final skit.

I can’t tell you who it is, but I can say that he has an unusually big head and foul mouth. It is not a personal attack, but a fact, to say that the eerie combination of his doughy midsection, pasty coloring and high-pitched, saccharine giggle sent tremors of belly laughs throughout the bistro.

Overall, it is no surprise that this evening of surprises is so satisfying. Now in its third season, Surprise Theatre is routinely becoming a guaranteed hit with cult-like followers and new fans alike. Shows are consistently sold out, and occasionally, additional shows must be added to accommodate its popularity. Its consistent delivery of innovative, thought-provoking, knee-slapping evenings of food and fun makes this quirky experience one you won’t want to miss.

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IF YOU GO Surprise Theatre: ‘Nouveau Americana’ Presented by: Balagula Theatre. When: 6 p.m. Oct. 11-13. Where: Natasha’s Bistro, 112 Esplanade. Tickets: $7. Reservations required. Call: (859) 259-2754. Online: www.natashascafe.com