Audiences familiar with the work of Intramural Theater know to expect the unexpected. The local ensemble thrives on comic absurdity, dark satire and quirky concepts that stretch the limits of imagination.
Whether it’s a story of siblings who morph into trees (“The Trees”), documentarians trapped in a magical cave (“Cave”) or a couple of houseboat dwellers trying to survive at sea in a not-so-distant dystopian future (“Apostles of Everest”), the company consistently embraces the odd and outlandish in their artsy DIY approach to experimental theatermaking. Newcomers are best advised to strap in, hang on and try to keep up.
In their latest offering, “The Bermuda Can Company,” the Intramural players put on a farce to be reckoned with, a big brash send-up of corporate office culture that quickly careens off the rails.
Directed by company co-founder Bennett Kirschner, who also serves as lead writer of the ensemble-devised piece, “The Bermuda Can Company” hits the ground running and never lets up, showcasing offbeat comic chops, manic storytelling, and a bright and busy production design all swirling asunder in this psychedelic romp of a play.
From left, Madi Zins, Samille Ganges and Mary Davis with Intramural Theater in a scene from 'The Bermuda Can Company.'
Paper streamers, office politics
The show’s premise revolves around the launch of a new product, the first-of-its-kind totally resealable and recyclable aluminum can. To celebrate, the can company’s small office staff throws a party, replete with paper streamers, fake-flower leis, colorful balloons and an overabundance of drugs and alcohol.
When the product launch hits an unexpected snag, all professional courtesy goes out the window as staffers point fingers and shuffle the blame, shifting alliances in a minefield of petty office politics.
The plot keeps audiences on their toes with some unexpected twists and turns, but more importantly, it serves as a vehicle for the cast of outlandish characters and over-the-top performances.
As company head Kiefer Bermuda, Lauren Wells delivers a truly impressive eye-popping, belly-busting comedic feat. Her portrayal of the bumbling executive leans into Charlie Chaplin-esque clowning, dosed with the surreal zaniness of “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse.” The character is as much performance art as it is performance, full of childlike silliness but also exposing a sociopathic edge.
Catty frenemies shine
Wells is joined by a strong cast of supporting performers, including Mary Langley, Mary Davis and Topher Johnson, who all shine as a trio of catty office frenemies.
Ricky Ostry gets laughs as the unpredictable oddball custodian, while Madi Zins’ portrayal of wide-eyed intern Beverly is a foil for the madcap shenanigans.
From left, Lauren Wells, Ricky Ostry and Mary Langley with Intramural Theater in a scene from 'The Bermuda Can Company.'
The cast is rounded out by Samille Ganges, who plays a TikTok influencer, and Philip Yiannopoulos, who plays a drawbridge operator, a couple of outsiders who get dragged into the fray.
Since its inception in 2014, Intramural Theater has made waves just beneath the surface of the city’s mainstream theater scene, often performing in backyards, converted garages and other makeshift spaces (“Bermuda Can Company” occupies a repurposed single-family dwelling now perched on the grounds of the Music Box Village in Bywater).
The company’s conceptual art-forward productions may lack the polish of more standard offerings around town, but its enthusiasm for the eccentric and esoteric, along with an underground ethos and style, propel works like “The Bermuda Can Company” into otherworldly realities where imaginations, both sinister and sincere, freely run amok.
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'The Bermuda Can Company'
WHEN: Through May 27
WHERE: The Music Box Village Schoolhouse, 4557 N. Rampart St.
TICKETS: $20
INFO: intramuraltheater.org