March 3- 9, 2005

theater

Perplexed at the Prince

by David Anthony Fox

theater review

Lightning may not strike the same place twice, but theater problems can and do.

Twice in the last two seasons, the Prince Music Theater has postponed a promised premiere and at the last minute substituted another work that was developed elsewhere. This time, the postponed piece is Einstein's Dreams, now promised for next year. The substitution, Life: A Guide for the Perplexed, is the latest installment from the beloved Flying Karamazov Brothers.

In a minute, I'll get down to the likeable Life. But first, I can't help pointing out that while the show — now working its way across the country — has some incidental music, it's a considerable stretch to consider this engagement part of "nurturing and developing the unique American art form of music theater" that is the Prince's stated mission. That, and the fact that both substitutions were announced to press and public with very little notice, is worrisome.

For those unfamiliar with the Flying Ks, they are first and foremost a troupe of four amazing jugglers, who for more than 30 years have framed their skills in whimsical theater pieces that combine circus, vaudeville and street-style entertainment. The Ks are fond of asking Big Questions:

Life begins with the famous opening of Dante's Divine Comedy where we're lost in the forest of existence.

But The K Way is to search for Monty Pythonesque comic relief rather than answers. They are no more on a direct path than Dante himself and instead are offering a good time along the road.

Sure enough, Life is a good time. It purports to be based on a 12th-century religious tract, and the show is full of clever puns, masterful puppets, really exceptional juggling and some winning set pieces, including a sung quartet to Shakespeare's ages of man speech. All this is performed by four charming actor/acrobats (act-robats?).

And maybe that's enough. It certainly seemed to be for a very enthusiastic matinee audience. I see the Ks as victims of their own success. Decades ago, the hippie-ish troupe was genuinely unique. But their blend of comedy and circus artistry was so influential that by now we've seen a lot of it, by the Ks themselves and others. (This season's All Wear Bowlers seems K-influenced.)

For me, while the juggling remains ever astounding, the rest of the shtick is wearing thin. What once was Special K is now, well, just OK.

Life: A Guide For The Perplexed Through March 20, Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St., 215-569-9700

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