Review 

Badge

Rattlestick Theater
June 18, 2007
VanLoan

vanloan@nyconstage.org

Badge, Matthew Schneck's rather schizophrenic comedy opens with Roy (the marvelous Greg McFadden) delivering a monologue on the virtues of urban wilderness service. In his hyper-kinetic style, Roy extols knot making as well. The absurdity starts to sink in as we realize that Roy is a 28 year old Boy Scout. In a bout of extremely prolonged adolescence, Roy has made it his mission to earn all 122 merit badges that a scout could possibly earn. He has lied about his age in order to get a "diplomatic extension" from BSA headquarters. Complications have arisen; Roy's scoutmaster Brad (Darrell James) has suspicions about Roy's age; many of the other scouts' parents have brought up the issue of possible pedophilia. It's a rather funny metaphor for Roy's inability to deal with the world at large (especially being the technophobe that he is). The edgy first scene seems to set up what will be a black comedy about a Peter Pan complex.

Unfortunately, things go wrong pretty quickly (both literally and metaphorically). Jessica enters or rather storms in (a manic, aggressive performance by Tara Falk) claiming to be Brad's sister and in need of $50 dollars. An obvious con artist with outlandish tales (the one about having two vaginas is particularly irksome), she sends Roy totally off base but does arouse his libido.

Roy is set to begin work cleaning the apartment (he already has that badge) of the wealthy Mrs. Penderpoint, a loony grande dame of the theater (another overwrought performance by Glynis Bell). Jessica sets up a plot to rob Penderpoint of some her valued antiquities with Roy as an accomplice. Roy however wants Penderpoint's theatrical expertise in getting his last badge (for pantomime). It a "mommie dearest" bout of frenzied cleaning, Penderpoint falls and smashes her head; Jessica and Roy leave her for dead taking a pre-Revolutionary vase.

By now, the plot has spun so out of control there is no returning. Roy has stopped taking his medication and has become as manic as Jessica. James returns as Officer McCurdy investigating Jessica's criminal behavior (she's wanted in three states) and Penderpoint returns delusional but not dead. At this point, all believability and interest has long since left the premises (there is further nonsense about a ritual chicken sacrifice). Despite director Jenn Thompson's desperate attempts at keeping things nimble, Badge has become as slack as a badly done knot. It's rather a shame as author Schneck had an intriguing premise and has a snappy way with dialogue. McFadden (seen to great effect earlier this season in The Actor's Company Theatre's production of The Sea) is endearing and has a wonderful Steve Carell-like quality needed for Roy. It is he who deserves a 'badge' for conduct above and beyond the call of duty.

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