Amanda’s Mix Tape
Amanda’s Mix Tape
By David Strauss
Directed by Paul Castaneda
Greater Orlando Actor’s Theater
Red Venue, Orlando International Fringe Theater Festival</strong>
Let’s slide back to the 90’s – no cell phones, VHS tapes, and Zombie movies rule the screen. Scott (David Strauss) and his buddies Razz (Rob Delmedico) and Jack (Kevin Sigman) spend their days drinking, playing softball and speaking almost exclusively in quotes from movies. They’re at that age where commitment and steady sex is beginning to appeal, and Scott gets lucky first. His main squeeze is Amanda (Elizabeth Loftus), and they get along well enough until he reverts to his self-centered guy mode and forgets to call her from a softball tournament when she had mall plans. This is enough to upset their apple cart, and when Amanda’s dad has a heart attack, she has a valid excuse to move out. Scott’s heartbroken enough to reject an approach by Kelly (Kim Luffman) in favor of a spectacular stunt to reclaim Amanda. Somehow, I think this will set the mood for their entire future.
The stakes never seem high enough to make Scott’s stunt seem worthwhile, and the pop culture references make long stretches of the story hard to follow. Still, there are plenty of gags, and Larry Stalling steals the show at the end as the Angry Fruit Deliveryman. Strauss and his company do seem stuck in the 90’s – you get the idea they are classic slackers almost ready to grow up, and all the women surrounding them are hoping to help them make the change. Ultimately, neither will be happy.
This show is presented as part of the 17th Orlando International Fringe Theater Festival. Information on times, tickets, and venue location my be found at http://OrlandoFringe.org/</a> </em>
