Zombie Joe’s Underground theatre is the epicenter for fearless theatre in Los Angeles. The tiny, black box is constantly putting on show after original show that pushes the boundaries for both audience and performer. The newest production is no different. The Year of the Monkey premiered last weekend to a packed, enthusiastic house who came to see something new. Directed by the proprietor, Zombie Joe Himself, uses 10 performers ( Jennifer Ashe, Jeannie Hudak, Stepy Kamei, Gerald McGrory, Olivia M. Powell, Dale Sandlin, Elif Savas, Anastasiya Serada, Adam Shows, and Roger K. Weiss) Including a musician (Kevin Van Cott), to tell the story of The Monkey.
The Monkey (猴) is the 9 of the 12-year cycle of animals from the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The Monkey is known to be Intelligent, romantic, sociable, quick-witted, curious, and gregarious. However, they can also be egotistical, vain, arrogant, selfish, deceptive, reckless, snobbish, manipulative, and restless. Zombie highlights these traits as we see the passionate yet ferociously stubborn primate battle the fearsome Dragon to unshackle its chains of bondage! This is one ambitious piece of performance art that is, for the most part, successful at creating an immersive world of simeon insanity.
The show begins the second the house opens. The layout of the theatre has been altered slightly to make space for three large square, set pieces pushed up against the three further walls. Guests are encouraged here to either take a seat in what’s left of the normal seating area or to stand, “on stage” during the 50 minute show. Knowing that the chance to stand in the midst of some Zombie-orchestrated mayhem would be rare, I chose to stand, facing the audience. This is the way to see this show folks. Do it.
After all are seated, or standing as-it-were, A monkey (Kevin Van Cott) lumbers out to the space, grunts at the audience, and takes his seat behind a drum set in the corner. The large wooden door is slid closed and the lights go to black. The lights come up and the space is filled with wildly colorful performers writing, twitching, and screeching. Cott’s drum work carries the action of the show, commenting on it musically while a chief “monkey” bellows narration. We are given just enough information to discern what is happening while also being allowed to piece things together ourselves, to see the inferred, to slide into the fantasy.
Each one of the performers does a remarkable job carrying their weight and engaging the audience. There are standouts though in this ensemble, Dale Sandlin as the weighty, Jerry Garcia-inspired narrator holds the stage in his grip when he is orating commentary. Elif Savas gives her monkey performance a nimble, frenetic tone, bugging her eyes out and glaring randomly. Then of course there is Kevin Van Cott, the Monkey drummer. Van Cott’s percussion evokes the score from the Oscar-winning film, Birdman by Antonio Sanchez. His performance is something that this play would not be the same without. The one false note of the entire show is, in-fact, is when Cott leaves the drum set to take over the guitar in a finale that loses percussive punch.
Take our advice and go learn about The Year of the Monkey. Zombie and his ensemble are to be commended for yet another unbridled performance brimming with conviction and enthusiasm. Audacious and fun, The Year of the Monkey is a must-see show at Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre.
The Year of the Monkey runs Friday and Saturday nights at 8:30pm every weekend in February.
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