Biedermann's physical world is a cartoon house replete with an asymmetrical dining table, a canted second floor, and unparallel everything. Near his house is a hilled, crystalline city rising several feet from the stage. Biedermann also lives in a world of denial, but he is about to be visited by two strangers. The city has been plagued with arsonists. Their MO is to plead homelessness, stay with their victim, and then burn the house to the ground, often causing collateral damage. The comic-strip motif includes shifting from night to day by replacing the projected moon with a projected sun.
Shulamit Nelson's costumes continue the theme. Biedermann is attired in stodgy blacks, while wife Babette wears house-wifely frocks topped with flamboyant hair styles. Unwelcome houseguest Sepp is clown-like and covered with tattoos, while his partner, Willie, is a Chaplinesque, black-suited conman. The chorus, the Greek voice of reason, is a trio of yellow-cloaked firemen.
Tim Irving's Biedermann is one of those nice guys who can't say no. Irving's performance is a delight to watch as his character is manipulated by arsonists, who always speak the truth, which he doesn't believe.
Scott's Sepp is a delightful manipulator. His clown-like appearance is enhanced by his multi-colored, full body artwork. While not apparent to Biedermann, Sepp's evil seeps out to permeate the audience. Once Willie (Joshua Everett Johnson) enters, we see the extent of Sepp and Willie's plans. Like Sepp, Willie is manipulative, but even more overtly evil.
Laura Bozanich plays Babette. She is a deliciously frenetic, slightly off-kilter wife. Lisel Gorell-Getz as Anna, Biedermann's factotum, is almost as hyper as Bozanich. Anna's attempts to protect Biedermann are met with failure. Joshua Harrell, Jerry Lee and Kim Strassburger are the chorus. Harrell also plays the constable, Lee is quite amusing as the professor, and Strassburger plays the knitting observer, Frau Knechtling.
Eric Lotz's creative lighting and special effects enhanced the Sean Murray-designed set. M. Scott Grabau's work on sound effects and various backgrounds proves outstanding.
Biedermann and the Firebugs is guaranteed to provide you with 80 minutes of laughs. Driving home, however, will give you time to reflect on the meaning and impact of the play, which will surely spark some interesting conversations.
