by: Sandi Durell
The fine work at Ensemble Studio Theatre (45+ year history) has been evident for many years. Their Youngblood program (artistic director Willliam Carden) helping emerging writers couldn’t be more vital as in the current continuing production of “Year of the Rooster.”
Everyone has a passion, a dream – in this case, the meek Gil Pepper (Thomas Lyons) who works behind the counter at a MacDonald’s but at home is keeper and trainer of Odysseus Rex (Bobby Moreno) a mean fighting cock. Gil lives in a messy house with his pain in the butt, messy old mother (Delphi Harrington) who is living on disability, and insists that Gil give her foot rubs when he comes home with boxes of McNuggets – the empty boxes strewn and stacked on shelves like badges of merit (scenic design Alexis Distler).
Moreno, cleverly costumed in black tailed jacket, a T-shirt and feathers (designed by Sydney Maresca) with a punk cocks-comb hairdo, jumps and struts with bird-like jerky movements. He is a bad angry bird ready to kill – shot up with drugs and steroids by his loving owner. You can’t take your eyes off him as he shouts hatred and wants to tear that bastard cock to shreds.
The man who runs the sport is Dickie Thimble (Denny Dale Bass), the promoter and owner of the top fighting roosters. He chides and bates the wimpy Gil into a match between OD and his top bird (whom Bass also plays in the fight scene), as they jut, bump, roll, rumble and peck at each other to the death; OD the winner – finely choreographed by Qui Nguyen to conclude Act I.
Love blooms on two fronts – temporarily for Gil at work with his kook of a manager Philipa (Megan Tusing), who insults him continually lauding her position over him, that is until he presents her with tickets to Disney World Resort (her life’s dream) as she changes her tune about Gil.
But more importantly is the romance and soft feelings that OD exhibits when Gil brings home a plump chicken for mating (hilariously played by Tusing) – a heart warming but sad moment in the story.
Moreno is undoubtedly formidable as Odysseus Rex in his high energy performance about the subculture of cock-fighting that few have actually witnessed. The language is foul, the scenes can be bloody but the cleverly written dialogue is filled with zany humor to the credit of Eric Dufault, playwright.
The performances are all strong, the story unexpectedly riveting. The choice of classical music is engaging as director John Giampietro deftly moves his actors like a chess master.
Don’t miss “Year of the Rooster” playing thru February 2nd – Ensemble Studio Theatre, 549 W. 52nd St., NYC
*Photo: Russ Kuhner