By John Quinn
If I'm going to venture out from my suburban Fortress of Solitude into the frigid nights of mid-winter Michigan, there'd better be a damn good reason. I think I've found one – a trip to Planet Ant for the first of this season's Late Night Series. "3 Men, 1 Jar" is a rollicking one-act by Colony Fest winners A.R.M. Andy Wotta, Russ Woods and Marv Anderson bring to the table an edgy comic sensibility that can heat up the coldest theater.
The hapless heroes of the play are a trio of out-of-work guys who are just realizing there must be more to life then bowling. A donation jar with a picture of the "Cancer Kid" attracts their attention. But what a coincidence! The Kid himself, practically at death's door, shows up to collect what little money is available for his life-saving operation! His pitiful condition inspires our gang to raise the money for him. The increasingly obsessed do-gooders will not be deterred in their unsuccessful and sometimes criminal fund raising effort.
If this sounds rather tame, it's not. There's less Mother Theresa and more Three Stooges here – but with less gratuitous violence (well, not much less). Each actor plays multiple roles, donning a series of outrageous wigs and costumes. They test the limits of the probable, sometimes holding conversations with their alter egos by merely facing up stage or burying one's head in a duffle bag. And, by golly, the old gag works! It even leads to the only six-character chase performed by three actors I've ever encountered. Planet Ant's own Mike McGettigan, ably assisted by Dyan Balley, has given this cast free rein, yet they never stampede. But Guys! Guys! Guys (1, 2, 3 – yep, three guys)! You're dealing with some quality material here! There's no need to rush the lines!
I'm proposing a new old adage. If "April showers bring May flowers," then "January snows won't stop good shows! I'm just say'n.
REVIEW:
'3 Men, 1 Jar'
. Planet Ant Theatre, 2357 Caniff St., Hamtramck. 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday through Jan. 22. $10. 313-365-4948. http://www.planetant.com.
