By John Quinn
Genevieve Jona and Chris Berryman in "Dance Xanax Dance" at Planet Ant Theatre. Photo: Colleen Scribner
Did you ever have a holiday when you yearned for that last Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle to complete your collection and all you got was a pair of socks? Adults can still have let-downs like that, and "Dance Xanax Dance" at Planet Ant Theatre is a case in point.
Even The Baby Jesus knows this holiday season needs a sharp countercultural kick in its flaccid underbelly, and a subversive little play that promises to capture the true meaning of "Christmahanakwanzika" sounds made to order. Unfortunately, the kick fails to land.
All the ingredients for something special are available. The voyage of self-discovery is a classic theme strongly rooted in the common culture, and its archetypes are ripe for satire. Mix equal portions of "The Nutcracker," "A Christmas Carol" and "The Wizard of Oz." Add a dash of glitter and Ziggy Stardust, dump it in the Osterizer – the product should be a cool, frothy relief from the holiday grind. Here, though, the result is sadly watered down.
Theater benefits from the collaborative efforts of many artists pooling their strengths. Playwright Lauren Bickers has directed her own script and may be too close to the material to recognize the weak spots. Too much of the humor here is drawn, not from character or narrative, but from schtick – a lot of it clumsy. The plot starts in drug rehab, meanders around a while, but ultimately gets nowhere.
Maybe it's a generational thing and maybe Old Bah Humbug here need a journey of self-discovery all his own. But as an anti-depressant for the holiday blues, "Dance Xanax Dance" is the wrong prescription.
REVIEW:
'Dance Xanax Dance'
Planet Ant Theatre, 2357 Caniff St., Hamtramck. Friday-Saturday through Dec. 18, plus Sunday, Dec. 5 and 12 and Tuesday, Dec. 7. $20. 313-365-4948. http://www.planetant.com
