Driven by the Absurd

Coinciding with the Ojai Festival’s salute to Finland is Flying H Productions’ staging of Bertolt Brecht’s “Mr. Puntila and His Man Mati,” now playing at the Ojai Center for the Arts.

Brecht in fact was German, but this play is set in Finland, where Brecht lived while fleeing his increasingly Nazified homeland. The play was based on a short story by Finnish playwright Hella Wuolijoki, its title translated as “A Finnish Bacchus.”

The central character, a farmer named Puntila, is wealthy enough to have his own driver, Mati. Although Puntila is given to “fits of sobriety,” he usually drinks to excess, and much of the play is given to Puntila’s search for some legal after-hours alcohol and the consequences of the search.

Brecht was a pioneer of the movement known as theater of the absurd, and director Jim Lashley stages it almost as a circus--hardly inappropriate, given Puntila’s obvious similarity to most W.C. Fields characters, including a fierce temper on occasion. Another artistic touchstone results from the director’s use of Gary Best and Tom Mueller in the title roles; both played in last year’s Flying H production of Samuel Beckett’s absurdist “Endgame.”

Will you enjoy it? Maybe. Though both the playwright and director include crowd-pleasing elements of broad comedy, there’s a political message as well, and the whole play has that just-slightly-off sound that often distinguishes a translation--or is it just mannered speech?

There was a fair amount of laughter opening night, and some scenes--including the one in which a judge (Robert Nairn), lawyer (Robert Sabotka) and parson (Doug Friedlander) hold forth--should amuse just about anyone, as should the action among Puntila’s four fiancees (Judy Gottlieb, Olivia Hammil, AnTonya Molleur and Cheline Jaidar).

Cecile Bouchier’s scenic backdrops are especially imaginative, and there’s a car--designed by Iris Williams and Kirk Lowry--that’s straight out of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.”

Absurd, you bet. Maybe too much so for some people during 165 minutes. On the other hand, where else are you going to see this play performed?

DETAILS

“Mr. Puntila and His Man Mati” continues through June 20 at the Ojai Center for the Arts, 113 S. Montgomery. Performances are at 7 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. A special matinee will be staged this Sunday at 2 p.m. in conjunction with the Ojai Festival. Ticket prices range from $10-$15. For reservations or more information, call 640-1506.

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When Is a Preview Not a Preview: Frequently, theatrical companies will feature what are advertised as preview performances of a work. Scheduled before the official opening night, these previews give the company a chance to adjust to a new theater (particularly if it’s a touring group), working in front of an audience and so on. These performances are traditionally offered at a reduced price and not subject to review.

You don’t see previews often in Ventura County, although there are exceptions. One is the Kansas-based Theatre League, which brings its touring companies to the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza--”Phantom” recently and the Carole King revue, “Tapestry,” coming in August.

For the last couple of years, the venue was often the troupe’s first stop. What it’s been doing--sneakily, by some standards--is calling the first weekend’s Friday-Sunday performances previews and discouraging reviews while the company settles in. Fair enough, except audiences are charged full price for a performance judged by the producers not ready for review. Keep that in mind when you purchase tickets, though some productions in the current schedule will be performed first in Long Beach, then move to Thousand Oaks.

This weekend, Ventura’s Rubicon Theater Company brings “Forever Plaid” to the Laurel Theatre. It’s the same production that recently ran at the Civic Arts Plaza’s Forum; higher prices here, but in an even more intimate environment. Tonight’s and Friday night’s performances are being advertised as previews, with a considerably reduced admission. That’s the way to do it.

DETAILS

“Forever Plaid” continues through July 3 at the Laurel Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street, Ventura. Performances are at 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Tonight and Friday are previews; tickets are $20. Tickets for Saturday’s opening, followed by a ‘50s party (period dress is encouraged) and artists’ reception are $32.50. Subsequent performances are $32 Friday and Saturday evenings, $27.50 all other shows. Discounts are available for groups of 12 or more. For reservations or further information, call 667-290.

Todd Everett can be reached at teverettconcentric.net