STARRING: Chris Markcity, Jessica Meguiar, Andrew Romano, and Olivia Richardson
WRITTEN BY: Neil LaBute
DIRECTED BY: John DiDonna
I was going to start off this review by telling you a little bit about the general history of the play Fat Pig, and its original production. Then I noticed the original cast, Jeremy Piven, Andrew McCarthy, Keri Russell…. and Ashlie Atkinson. Who? I think the fact that the 2004 off-broadway run featured three well known actors (even at that time), and one unknown actress who remains virtually unknown says a lot about our image problems in Hollywood, and why this play is so important. You can probably name all the overweight actresses you can think of on one hand (at best, you don’t need more than 10 fingers).
Fat Pig embraces the idea that Helen (Meguiar) is an overweight girl, but she’s got a great personality and seems like a genuinely great person to get to know. Tom (Markcity) does get to know her one day, and falls in love with her just as quickly as the audience. However, through the next 80 minutes of the play, he is constantly reminded by his friend Carter (Romano) and his ex-girlfriend Jeannie (Richardson) that it just isn’t socially acceptable to be seen with fat girls. Tom remains conflicted through the entire play, clearly in love with Helen, but afraid to show that to the world. It’s this behavior that causes tension in his relationship with Helen, and causes instability in her confidence, leading to a heartbreaking ending.
Or at least, an intended heartbreaking ending. I reminded myself at several points that this is a college production, with students, who are learning to act, but Markcity smirks through almost every scene. He either anticipates the punchline of a joke, or feels too awkward in the scene to keep a straight face. It is impossible to take him seriously. He’s a good looking dude, and when he’s spouting out dialogue in the calmer scenes, he reminds you a lot of Jesse Eisenberg. But then, something serious will go down, and you’re watching Jimmy Fallon again, about to giggle his way through a really rough scene. I can’t imagine what that must be like for Meguiar, who does an excellent job putting everything she’s got out on stage. Great performance from a very promising actress.
But where the show truly shines are in the comedic talents and timing of the supporting actors. Romano and Richardson as Carter and Jeannie are brilliant. Their ability to handle the snap-crack fast pace of the dialogue wakes you up every time they are on the stage. They both dominated the scenes they were in, largely because they were the most electric thing happening at the time. They also both brought a sense of comfort and ease to their performances that typically only comes with more professional, non-student actors.
As far as the play itself, it is relevant and well written. It moves along at an excellent pace, and at 90 minutes doesn’t expect too much from an audience. Directorial choices made by DiDonna actually enhanced the production. Refusing to include blackouts, and instead seamlessly transition from scene-to-scene was a bold choice, but one that I felt brought something extra to the production. The staging worked well in the space, allowing for a not-too-intimate, but not-impersonal setting. We were just close enough to the action, without being uncomfortable. Sometimes, theatre throws actors in your face and on your lap, and this wouldn’t have worked here.
Overall, this is a really enjoyable play, and really my only concerns come with an inexperienced actor who just hasn’t quite figured out how to stay in the moment yet. But, then again, these are students, this is a college play, and you have to still grade that on a curve. I’m sure with more time, and more practice, he’ll work himself out of his awkward phase. If he doesn’t, well, it never stopped Jimmy Fallon.
FINAL GRADE: B+
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