The Basics : AIRNESS a play with music by Chelsea Marcantel, directed by Drew McCabe presented by Lancaster Opera House starring Amanda Funiciello, Jacob Applegate, Isaiah Brown, Zachary Kushner, Mara Westerling-Morris, Zachary Bellus, and DP Morris. The show runs April 19 through May 5, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:30 pm at Lancaster Opera House 21 Central Ave. Lancaster ,NY 14086, 716 683 1776 lancasteropera.org
RUNTIME : 1 HOUR 20 MINUTES including one intermission
THUMBNAIL SKETCH: Airness is a music filled comedy about finding your tribe and your joy. It features fun air guitar performances to hit songs from Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Billy Idol, Bon Jovi, and REO Speedwagon to name a few. Airness amps up theatergoers and introduces them to the world of competitive air guitar (who knew there was such a thing?) The playwright, Marcantel dated someone who participated in these competitions, and apparently, she did not appreciate or understand the appeal at all. She thought it was ridiculous. Several years later, when she was researching new idea for a play she remembered the ex-boyfriend and the air guitar competitions. She is quoted as saying “He must have felt when he found the air guitar community what I must have felt when I found the theatre kids.“ Adding,
This was his tribe, his people, and the people he wanted to be around. This show is about a specific community and how they connect and interact with each other at its core.
THE PLAYERS,THE PLAY,AND THE PRODUCTION: Scenic designer David Dwyer and Nicholas Quinn, the lighting and sound designer perfectly capture the dimly lit bar atmosphere of any city USA, where most of our tribe of charming, quirky characters gather and compete. This unique, heartwarming story, is once that I had not heard about prior to attending this production, which is always exciting. Airness unfolds by explaining the art form and follows five air guitar devotees, and one newbie, as they try to qualify for a National Air Guitar Competition, the goal is to achieve something called ‘Airness” which is finding your inner joy through the medium of fun and fancy moves to rocking tunes.
Nina, sublimely played by Amanda Funiciello seemingly stumbles into a Staten Island bar where there is a competition about to take place. She meets the Motley Crue, er motley crew there, who all go by their stage names once they enter into this little microcosm of theirs. These folks are serious about their air guitar, whereas most of us have rocked out in the privacy of our homes or in a drunken state at a bar, they meticulously debate and analyze every detail of their performances. Shreddy Eddy, Facebender, and Golden Thunder are the core of this group of friends. They willingly accept Nina and try to help her let go of her inhibitions so she can tap into her emotions and find her joy. She was previously in a band and can play the guitar as opposed to her new friends, but she has some roadblocks ahead of her to achieve “Airness” and ultimately advance in the competitions.
At the start of the play Facebender, who is inhabited by the delightful Zachary Kushner declares that “this community” is built upon connection and camaraderie and not competition. Kushner plays the sweetness and vulnerability of this character masterfully; we love his hippy dopiness instantly as he encourages and assists Nina in her journey to qualify and move forward. He could have veered into a stereotypical Californian man child, but not in this capable actors’ hands, particularly in a very meaningful moment when he explains why he got into air guitar in the first place. It was one of my favorite scenes from this piece.
Golden Thunder is played by Isaih Brown with great enthusiasm. Thunder is bright and shiny and the most idealistic of the group. Shout out to costume designer Elaine Heckler, I loved all the characters outfit ,but Isaiah damn near steals the show with panache and ability to carry off some very wild and fun looks. DP Morris plays the announcer and several other characters with admirable effect.
Shreddy Eddie who becomes Nina’s mentor, tutor and possibly more later is portrayed by the very alluring Jacob Applegate. Applegate’s Eddie straddles between sheepishly cute nerd and sinewy sexy Air Guitar God. I have never seen Jacob in anything before, but he stands out in a very talented cast. This guy has some moves and does an awe-inspiring flip that is worth the price of admission. He also has great chemistry with Ms. Funiciello’s Nina as well as his two buddies, Facebender & Gold Thunder. I certainly look forward to seeing him back on stage in something else soon.
Cannibal Queen and D Vicious form a sort of a past/present love triangle with Nina. Cannibal Queen is played by a mostly deadpan, sardonic Mara Westerling-Morris who is clad in a bad ass rock chick leather ensemble. She is tough on the outside, less tough on the inside. She is a married woman (mutually non monogamous) having a fling with bad boy D Vicious, played by Zachary Bellus, who we later learn is the ex-boyfriend of Nina, who now goes by the moniker “The Nina.” Mr. Bellus, another actor I have never had the pleasure of witnessing on a stage, channels Sebastian Bach, Brett Michaels, and Axel Rose with an open sensual swagger ramping up to full thrusting male bravado. The character of D Vicious could easily be a very cliched one dimensional pretty boy “front man,” but in the skillful hands of this actor, you get to see some different shades of vulnerability in addition to the fist pumping, champion that he is.
Nina experiences the most growth in this play. She entered into this mostly male dominated world fairly confident that she would dominate the competition, because of her skill as an actual guitarist and her actual disdain for air guitar (much like the play’s author initially). She promptly falls flat on her face after the first competition and is lifted up by the our lovable trio of misfits and she grows to understand what joy there is to be derived from this “art form.” Nina has an adversarial relationship with Cannibal Queen and an unhealthy obsession with D Vicious, who is the reigning national champion. As they navigate through various cities and competitions it becomes apparent that Nina has ulterior motives. She careens down a path that starts at contempt, moves to acceptance, belonging, then betrayal and finally triumphant joy and love. I have admired Amanda Funiciello’s work since I saw her in Alleyway Theatre’s brilliant production of Kragtar: The American Monster Musical last season. Speaking of joy, Amanda has in the last year, beguiled not only me, but has given Western New York audiences an incredible amount of joy, from her portrayal of Tish in Kragtar, to Vivienne in MusicalFare’s production of Legally Blonde, to her exceptional performance as Audrey on this very stage in Little Shop of Horrors. Amanda, as Nina, draws you right in with her expressive face and beautiful big brown eyes and keeps your attention with her ability to be real. Nina is flawed and funny, she is insecure and confident, she is hurt and can hurt others, but most of all she is very relatable. That my friends is what makes Amanda Funiciello compelling to watch on stage, take note casting directors, you want this woman in your shows.
I had no idea what to expect coming into Airness. This is by no means a perfect play, but it is good and worth checking out. The impressive cast is guided by an equally impressive director with great heart and soul, a head banging soundtrack, transformative lighting and set design that take the audience on a journey from grubby local bars to the climatic finale set in a rock arena. Airness delivers a good time for all. It calls upon our imagination and makes us root for these people. We hoot, holler, and cheer for them because we can put ourselves in their shoes for a little while. Anyone who has been put down for really enjoying a hobby, a pastime, or even an artist or a band, or has been ridiculed by others for their passion will not only see themselves in these characters, but will leave smiling and humming because they have thoroughly enjoyed this show.
4.5 Buffalos
HERD OF BUFFALO RATING SYSTEM
FIVE BUFFALOS: Exceptional quality – a rare rating. Whether it’s a hilarious comedy or a touching drama, if this is your kind of show, missing out would be a mistake!
FOUR BUFFALOS: Both the production and the play are of exceptional quality. If the genre and content match your preferences, it’s worth seeing.
THREE BUFFALOS: Despite minor drawbacks, it’s a solid production and a pleasant evening at the theater. Keep your expectations in check, and you’re likely to have a good time.
TWO BUFFALOS: If you’re a self-proclaimed theatre enthusiast who simply adores attending shows, go ahead and give it a try. However, if the genre and themes don’t resonate with you, you might want to explore other options.
ONE BUFFALO: This might not be the best choice for everyone unless you have a compelling reason to attend, like having family or friends involved in the performance. It’s probably a good idea to skip this one.
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