A funny family road trip A funny family road trip (April 30, 2004)

Characters crack jokes, fight in 'Approaching Zanzibar'

By Katie Vaughn

Covering life, death, family and aging in a two-hour show is a daunting task for any play. But "Approaching Zanzibar" succeeds because it mixes humor into the heavy themes.

Pear Avenue Theatre's latest production follows a typical American family -- a father, mother, son and daughter -- on a road trip from New York to New Mexico to visit a dying aunt. The majority of the play takes place at various campsites and scenic spots along the route.

"Approaching Zanzibar," written by Tina Howe and premiered in New York in 1989, sets a humorous tone from its opening scene. In their car, family members sing "100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall." They start at 44 and by 39 bottles, they're fighting. The parents (Patricia Tyler and Dan Roach) argue, the kids (Alexander Nee and Emma Steuer) bicker, and then the parents yell at the kids.

Audience laughter is a constant presence throughout the performance of the play. Perhaps the reason is because the characters are realistically flawed and allow audience members to relate to them. The brother and sister, for example, act like real kids. When they find themselves alone one night in the family tent, they panic, then become distracted by their cool light-emitting toys. The parents are hilariously authentic, too -- the mother rips open her shirt and douses herself with champagne to get relief from hot flashes.

But the play is more than just funny and audience members may see themselves in these serious scenes as well. At one point, the mother breaks down about reaching menopause. Later, what is meant to be a father-son bonding experience turns into a fly-fishing swearing-fest.

The four main actors are thoroughly believable in their roles as mostly-functional family members. They evoke sympathy at some points, but are annoying at others. Their costumes are perfectly appropriate, too, from the father's faded golf shirt to the mother's practical khaki-capris-and-hiking-boots ensemble.

By keeping the play's main focus on the characters and their relationships, few props are needed. However, the Pear makes innovative uses of common materials. Four boxes, a wheel and a front grille form the family's car, and an arrangement of strings creates the outline of a tent.

The set is equally sparse yet imaginative. Two large pads of paper are hung side by side and before each scene, marker-wielding actors draw the background. Black clouds and raindrops signify bad camping weather and waves show the family is on a boat trip.

While most of the play's action is so plausible that the audience has likely shared many of the characters' experiences, the meaning of a few events are difficult to understand and are left ambiguous. For instance, at a mountain lookout, the family encounters a baby and a psychic boy, neither of whom they see again.

And later in the play, the father and daughter switch roles, as do the mother and son. The younger actors drive the car, swearing and arguing, while the older actors squabble and complain that they have to use the bathroom. Although a bit confusing, the scene is hilarious. Hearing a 12-year-old actress curse like a middle-aged man and hearing the man whine, "Daddy's mad, I hate it when Daddy's mad," is an unexpected pleasure.

The play would have been powerful if it focused solely on family relationships and the cycle of life, but it is better for doing more. By incorporating humor, "Approaching Zanzibar" also gives the audience a chance to laugh at the realities of life.

Information

What: "Approaching Zanzibar"

Where: Pear Avenue Theatre, 1220 Pear Ave., Unit K

When: The show runs through May 9. Performances are held Thursdays through Saturdays starting at 8 p.m., on Sunday, May 2 starting at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, May 9 starting at 2 p.m.

Cost: Tickets are $15 general, $10 students and seniors on Thursdays and Sundays. $20 general, $15 students and seniors on Fridays and Saturdays.

Info: Call 254-1148 or visit www.thepear.org.

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