BODY AWARENESS receives great reviews

Review: ‘Body Awareness’ at Hyde Park Theatre

By Jeanne Claire van Ryzin | Monday, April 12, 2010, 03:18 PM

Just a reminder everyone: The folks at the fictional New England Shirley State University in Annie Baker’s smart comedy “Body Awareness,” now getting a delightful spin at Hyde Park Theatre, are not celebrating Eating Disorders Week, though that’s what the calendar says.

No, Phyllis, a painfully politically correct lesbian psychology professor, has renamed the occasion Body Awareness Week. And if all goes according to her plans, the students and faculty will think meaningful — and politically correct — thoughts about gender and body politics.
But of course, nothing goes as planned.
Yet, rather than belittle her characters for their overzealous philosophizing, Baker crafts a gentle comedy that leaves even the most ardent. humorless feminist with dignity in tact.
Deftly directed by Ken Webster, the 90-minute “Body Awareness” is set in a fictional bucolic college town that’s all too familiar to Austinites.
When a photographer, Frank Bonitatibus (Kenneth Wayne Bradley), arrives as a guest artist for Body Awareness week, in he drops to stay at the home of Phyllis (Emily Erington), her partner Joyce (Katherine Catmull) and Joyce’s 21-year-old son Jared (Stephen Mercantel), who may or may not have Asperger’s syndrome.
But Frank’s photos of nude of women ignite an explosively critical reaction from Phyllis. Never mind that they intrigue Joyce and spur Jared — a self-proclaimed “autodidact” who works at McDonald’s — to confront his girlfriend-less status.
Baker unravels her story from a Monday to a Friday, with Phyllis giving an introduction to each day’s Body Awareness Week activities — short monologues that are satirical enough to stand as their own comedic send up of academia.
The most meaningful action takes place in Phyllis and Joyce’s home though as the couple try to bridge their widely differing opinions of Frank’s nude photography while also trying to deal with Jared’s escalating anxiety over his socially stunted behavior. Jared’s is repeatedly reminded by his mother and Phyllis that a lack of empathy is a key symptom of Asperger’s.
But kindly, Baker unmasks the resistance to empathy that all her characters share. And that gives “Body Awareness” its gentle heart.
A shrewd director of modern comedies, Webster keeps the play’s pacing at a relaxed yet efficient clip, letting the pauses in Baker’s dialogue linger to greater comic effect.
Mercantel stands out as the awkward man-child Jared, gracefully handling his character’s strange ricocheting between clever quip, childish defensiveness and hurtful jabs.
In the end, Jared edges toward exercising empathy, something “Body Awareness’ humorously reminds is sometimes lacking from over-analyzed lives.
“Body Awareness” continues 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays through May 8. Hyde Park Theare, 511 W. 43rd St. www.hydeparktheatre.org
Photo by Bret Brookshire.

Updates

Oct 21, 2007
B. Iden Payne Awards ceremony 7PM
Kenneth Wayne Bradley Nominated for his role Ariel in THE PILLOWMAN

Shooting the party scene from Martha in Smithville, Tx
2:30 PM- 12AM

Oct 20, 2007
Shooting the cooking scenes from Martha in Smithville, Tx
8:30 AM-9PM

Oct 19, 2007
Shooting the Gypsy wagon scenes from Martha in Smithville, Tx
8AM - 7PM

October 18, 2007
Shooting the breakfast scenes from Martha in Smithville, Tx
8AM - 4PM

October 17, 2007
Shooting a scene as an Alabama recruiter for the TV series Friday Night Lights
11AM - 3PM

October 16, 2007
A-Up
Feast II as the Sherriff
Ryan Glorioso in Shreveport, LA.

A UP
October 16, 2007 4PM
Feast II and III
Shreveport, LA
Ryan Glorioso

SHOOT - Friday Night Lights TV series - NBC
October, 17 2007
Call time 11AM
Millennium Youth Center
Alabama Recruiter

Arrived on set with Cathy at 10:45

A Up

SAG Ultra Low budget feature film
Anything For Now
Barbara Brinkley
Thurs, Oct 4th 11:45AM
Jim
DAC

Project Updates

• Blacksite Area 51 Update

A release date of Novemeber 2007 has been set for the highly anticipated Midway video game, starring the vocal talent of our very own Kenneth Wayne Bradley as Col. Green. you can visit the website for more info http://www.blacksitegame.com/

• Austin Circle of Theatres Announces Nominees for B. Iden Payne Awards

We are pleased to announce that The Pillowman has received 5 nominations (including Kenneth Wayne Bradley in the category of Outstanding Featured Actor in a Comedy.) Hyde Park
Theatre (of which KWB is a company member) received 10 nominations in all for the 2006-2007 Season. Thank you to all who came to the shows, and thank you to
all of you who support live theatre.

• Martha Update

Date has been set for the wardrobe fitting for German Director Katja Straub's Martha (Working Title) set to start shooting in mid October.

• Bunnies Update

Casting and shooting for the feature film Bunnies has been delayed.

• 40 Love Update

Feature Film "40 Love" will announce call-backs in another week to two weeks.