State Theatre offers caffeinated comedy
Apr. 13-16, 2006
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By Phoebe Moore
Daily Texan Staff
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Chelcey Adami | Daily Texan Staff |
“Hugh Butternut” played by Danny Jacobs, “Buzz Maxwell” played by Charles Peters, and “Bobby Bean” played by Joe Gautier (right) discuss their four-minute failure and ultimate demise of their performance troupe on national television during the opening act of “Triple Espresso: A Highly Caffeinated Comedy” at State Theater on Congress Ave. |
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Chelcey Adami | Daily Texan Staff |
“Bobby Bean” played by Joe Gautier performs slapstick comedy during the opening night performance of “Triple Espresso: A Highly Caffeinated Comedy” at State Theater on Congress Ave. |
Audience members look at each other uncomfortably, clearing their throats while making sure that they don’t look too conspicuous. As has been demonstrated all too clearly in the past half hour, being conspicuous gets you picked out.
A portly blonde man clasping a mirrored guitar shouts “SING, FRESHMEN!” No one dares to disobey him for fear of embarrassment. Suddenly, approximately a hundred previously composed middle-aged theatre patrons, all deathly afraid of being called out amongst their peers, are bellowing “Home On The Range” at the top of their lungs.
It’s just another night at Triple Espresso, the new comedy at the State Theatre. The story visits the mishaps of three men who stumbled into the roles of comedians and their mishaps throughout the years.
The action begins at, where else, but the Triple Espresso coffeehouse where Hugh Butternut is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his solo engagement at the establishment. To honor the occasion, he has gathered Bobby Bean and Buzz Maxwell to reunite the troop. Bean is ecstatic. Maxwell is not so much.
And so they launch off on a rollicking ride through their adventures. They take the audience to a college orientation for the Class of ’75 (where Bobby thoroughly embarrassed himself with his performance), a Kiwanis luncheon, a filming of the “Dating Game” television show where the three first met and, a location necessary for any comedy these days, the offices of Cable Zaire.
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Chelcey Adami | Daily Texan Staff |
The three-person cast of “Triple Espresso: A Highly Caffeinated Comedy” performs an freakishly talented skit consisting of hand-shadow puppets during opening night at State Theater on Congress Ave. |
Danny Jacobs, who gives life to Hugh Butternut, provides structure to the comedy by playing the role of MC and entertaining the crowd with piano renditions of Captain and Tenille and Elton John tunes, or as he says “Any ‘70s love song.”
Charles Peter portrays Buzz Maxwell as a deadpan, unenthusiastic character with flourishes of excitement and energy. He also injects magic into the play, a staple in modern comedy.
Joe Gautier, the aforementioned portly blonde man, breathes comic hilarity into Bobby Bean. His physical comedy and surprisingly ingenious shadow puppets propel the comedy from fairly unremarkable to noteworthy.
The script itself does not challenge the viewer, but it provides a welcome interruption to the hassles of daily life. It revels in simple pleasures, such as physical comedy and warmth between old friends.
Though the State Theatre has not introduced anything wildly new or experimental, Triple Espresso is a comedic delight for the light of heart.
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