All In The Timing worth experiencing

SAN DIEGO —If you’re looking for something little different in the way of entertainment, you might want to cruise downtown to the 6th Avenue Bistro at the corner of 6th and B (1165 Sixth Ave) where ion theatre is staging a quirky little play by David Ives called All in the Timing. It’s a bizarre comedy that, in some ways defies all logic. There are six little one-act vignettes; sometimes amusing, sometimes mind boggling and sometimes just plain wacky.

There is a  four character ensemble: Laura Bozanich whose own timing is impeccable, Andrew Kennedy who is multi-talented, Kim Strassburger whose energy is endless and very weirdly funny and Jonathan Sachs who is the more somber of the group.  This young and lively cast make impossibly quick costume changes, scene changes and in one case, people to animal changes and become whatever madcap, wild, or nutty  character that scene calls for. In Sure Thing, a girl (Laura Bozanich and Andrew Kennedy) is sitting in a coffee house, the seat next to her is empty. A boy comes by and asks, “Is that seat taken?” The first reply is “yes, I’m

Kennedy, Strassburger and Sachs

waiting for someone.” After a series of quick replies that change

with the ding of a bell until the right response is heard by both, he takes the chair next to her and they have a cup of coffee together. I don’t know if you have ever gone over a conversation in your head until the right response comes to mind, but that’s what that scene reminded me of. Both Bozanich and Kennedy are on top of their characters and set the tone for what’s to follow.

Philadelphia: is another one of those mind puzzles where a person’s geography dictates his state of mind. Jonathan Sachs and Andrew Kennedy pull this one off  in a fast talk banter, give and take about how different cities create their attitudes and thinking. Los Angeles; laid back and nonchalant. Oh, your  marriage is breaking up you, lost your job, no biggie.

Chicago: no life; Philadelphia; ask for one thing, get the opposite. Both Kennedy and Sachs are great in this one. It’s quite funny.

Next, the four come out carrying high stools and typewriters, bananas and toys. Called Words, Words, Words, three chimps are chosen to prove an experiment: The experiment being: If they are forced to sit at a typewriter long enough they, too, can pen Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  It’s odd, and yet funny to see the process. Jonathan Sachs as Milton, yes they all have names, who gets off one version while Kim Strassburger keeps typing a K, her name is Kafka. It’s pretty bizarre. And, oh, the bananas and the scratching…well, you just have to see for yourself. 

I must admit that seeing this madness is much more fun that reading about it because the expressions and the antics are just too outrageous to justly describe. As in Trotsky: Jonathan Sachs is Trotsky walking around  with an axe buried in his skull, but he doesn’t remember it happening It’s mishuginah. He rambles on about his ice pick phobia while  his kooky wife (Strassberger) is reading from an encyclopedia from the 1990’s saying today is  the day he dies, and the play is set in 1940.  Little stuff like that makes you want to scratch your head and have a long conversation about what you just saw after the food, drinks and eye popping comedy is over.

Co-directed by the companies co-artistic directors Glenn Paris and Claudio Raygoza this madcap comedy played at one of our local theatres in 2006 and both Glenn and Raygoza feel that in this new setting, the possibilities for an open ended run is going to happen because of the location and the connection to the Bistro. Along with ‘comedy tonight.” food and beverage can be ordered before, during and after the show so the audience (customer) can drink and nosh while watching. Just be careful you don’t swallow during a laugh-a- thon.

The staff, both at the restaurant and in the downstairs lounge, where the show takes place, is helpful and the menu upstairs in the Bistro is savory with lots of choices and enough to share.  If you want something off the menu the chef /owner Jack Gambrell will customize what you want. He did that for me. Reservations are recommended. It’s a bustling little place.

For more information call (619) 374-6894 or visit www.iontheatre.com Performances start at 8pm, Thursdays through Saturdays, and Sunday at 3pm. It’s worth a try.

See you at the theatre

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