Ed Hunt
David Berberian as a coach on a losing streak
Manbites Dog's artistic director Jeff Storer excels at finding, casting and directing such quirky, literate, humane plays as this, with which his directorial style is a natural fit. In Oh, the Humanity, he has once again helped his fine ensemble of actors disappear into their characters—even as text and set keep reminding us that they are representations. There is always enough air in the room in Storer’s productions: space and fuel for ideas and passions to burn clear without becoming overwrought or manic. In response, we let down our guards: for an hour or two, we are safe to think anything and feel everything; those beside us are not strangers.
The wonderful cast includes not only Berberian and Ivey, but Lance Waycaster, Chris Burner, Katja Hill (channeling Sarah Palin in one section!) and the always remarkable Lormarev C. Jones. The playlets are separated by musical interludes—melancholic, joyous John Prine songs—performed and directed by multi-talented Bart Matthews, sometimes accompanied by the players. But the theatre experience begins at the lobby door: Linwood Hart's carefully balanced, slightly mad paintings line the walls, and each night Torry Bend performs her Nesting, working puppets while wearing a house on her head.