The Really Big Once

There is a tremendous amount of talent and imagination on stage at The Really Big Once, but the whole may be somewhat less than the sum of its parts. A company-created piece from the Target Margin Theatre, The Really Big Once riffs on Tennessee Williams, Elia Kazan, and their experiences working together on Williams' magical but badly received experimental piece Camino Real. To the extent that the show focuses on what actually happened, utilizing letters, interviews, and other documentary material, The Really Big Once tells a fascinating story and provides interesting insights into both Williams and Kazan. But the members of the Target Margin Theatre are aiming at much more than passing on information; speaking simultaneously, taking turns playing Williams, dancing, using odd voices and repetitive phrases, they strive to create a fantasia of emotion and passion. The Really Big Once struck me as a jazz piece, with a bunch of talented people expressing their responses to a pre-existing piece of art. But, as can also happen with jazz, it doesn't work for everyone, and the people doing it may end up having more fun than the audience. The talented cast includes McKenna Kerrigan, John Kurzynowski, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Hubert Point-Du Jour, and Steven Rattazzi. Directed by David Herskovits.