Pulitzer, you know, Prize

Another play to review. Last night Plotnik and Ducknik drove to Shmalo Alto to see the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama 'Shmana in the Tropics.' It won a Pulitzer. A Pulitzer Prize, it won.

"Steamy," is what the press release said, and therefore Plotnik's Preview, which was written, like all his Previews, before he had seen the play, because this is what his Boss requires him to do, also used the word "Steamy."

Now, what other word woulda shoulda coulda he have used to describe a production (of a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, which, incidentally, won a Pulitzer Prize) which is as steamy as a flat tire, as steamy as an ice cream sandwich, as steamy as Aunt Booty's relationship with her soup? I mean, the soup may be creamy, it may even be dreamy, but steamy it ain't. (Interestingly enough, this play, you know, won a Pulitzer Prize.)

The music was very good, especially the really cool guitar-vocal Cuban son that was playing before the show started, and at intermission. The actors were good, yup. The story was not bad, not bad at all. The set was cool, uh huh. True, there were a few flaws, such as the bad guy who was actually pretty nice, and the way they diddled around with the political theme, but then again didn't want to offend anyone, so they backed off it, and clearly knew what they were doing, if I may say so, you know, Pulitzer Prize.

But the worst offender of all was: z-e-r-o chemistry. The show rises or falls, heh heh, on sexual heat. It just wasn't there. Maybe it's the director's fault, maybe the actors, maybe the playwright, maybe the venue. Blame it on the Bossa Nova. But Plotnik promises to never use the word 'steamy' again until he's felt it, tasted it, wiped it off his forehead, drained it out of his shirt.

The Great Plotnik Theater Review Division awards 'Shmana in the Tropics' Two Stars: a Star and a Half for the story of the very cool relationship between Tolstoy and the cigar factory workers, a Half Star for the Cuban music and a final Half Star for the principal actor's VERY cool white suit. But, goddamit, subtract Half a Star because but if they'd had any chile at all, or one ounce of cojones, this show woulda, coulda, shoulda been much more.