Art About Austin
Bianka's Wake
By Arthur B. Cohan III

Missing Naughty Austin's newest production of Bianka's Wake will unequivocally be a mistake. There is no mistake about this adorable comedy farce achieving much more lampoon than last spring's Angel's Balcony, proving that Blake Yelavich can write and direct beyond the parodies that have won him acclaim in former years.

Had the producers of television's extremely disappointing Sexiest Bachelor in America contest that aired early this month employed Yelavich's recruiting abilities, America would have without doubt seen a sexier breed of men grace the stage.

Don't know how Yelavich does it. His seemingly trademark of wonderful displays of muscle-bound eye candy running around in hardly nothing at all (sometimes brief stenches of nudity even) seems to keep his audience's wondering where he finds these men and how does he get them to tromp around in underwear and leather jock straps.

In Wake, Yelavich not only provides this for the heterosexual women element and those men who appreciate muscle men, but he also gives something for those heterosexual men and those women who appreciate a more femme looking woman to glance at in the title role of Bianka (Katherine James) who wears next to nothing through the majority of the play.

This eye candy ingredient is simply that: a nominal portion of what makes this show a pleasure to watch. Compared to the wonderful lines and the ensemble that makes them come to life, no one should feel he hasn't gotten his money's worth after the conclusion of the show.

James is charming, electrifying and convincing (and vocally resembles Juliette Lewis at times) in her role as the childish insecure rock starlet, Bianka Cherry, whose abuse of pills and alcohol lead her into one damaging situation after the next. While attending a charity gala, she calls off her engagement to action hero/actor fiancee Gordon Packard (Stewart Johnson). She then leaves with the extremely hunky, considerate Adam (Larry Swain) who in a purely gentlemanly gesture brings the extremely intoxicated Bianka back to the much criticized Valley apartment. Serendipitously, the apartment belongs to his unrequited love interest, the charming Cameron Kelley (Bryan Schneider), who could only burp when his celebrity icon Bianka approaches him during the gala.

Bianka's comedic drunken state is only eclipsed by Cameron's bitchy drag-queen-with-a-'tude roommate, Dexter "Tucker Under" Johnson (Jody Lanclos). Lanclos delivers yet another humorous performance for Naughty Austin productions. Last seen playing the flamboyant Gabriel in last Spring's Angel's Balcony, the Bianka wanna be struts around the stage in Cher drag, police women drag, and much of the time in just a g-string, panty hose and a black bra.

Lanclos illuminates the stage as he often did during his nine year plus career as Austin female impersonator "Scarlett Leigh". He should take care, though, not to get stereotyped and cast solely as the drag/flamboyant characters in future acting endeavors; being typed cast has a limited growth potential and stage life.

Leslie Sahlen enters the cast lineup as Francis Schwartz-Goldstein, the Jewish-mother like agent of Bianka who is fed up with Bianka's antics. After capturing the camera-carrying mystery man who is "ruining Bianka's life", she precedes to lecture Bianka like a mother to a daughter. She thrives on taking control of the ins and outs of one bedroom to another, the jumping behind sofas and the falling off the balcony escapades that wreak havoc in Cameron's apartment.

Johnson's metamorphism from the artsy mild manner dim-witted fiancee to the finger-snapping "straight leather daddy" adds to the presumably chaotic, fun-filled evening when he comes to rescue Bianka from what appears to be in his mind a possible Bianka-napping. Although it is stated in the program that Johnson is nothing like his character, he seems a real nature for leather garb.

In a surprising display of professional growth and charm, Austin Barbisch is a pure gem as the L.A.P.D. police recruit, Hank Golden. With a Barney Fife stature, an Ernest Borgnine snarl, and "Rocky" body, Barbish definitely proves that he is much more than a body to look at. Since portraying Rocky in last winter's Zachary Scott's production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, he also appeared in Naughty's Angel's Balcony where he portrayed the aloof neighbor who enjoyed moments of balcony nudity. This production proves that given a chance, Barbish can act.

Swain's portrayal of Adam seems awkward and forced at times. As the geeky sweet man trying to make a "love connection" with Cameron, the character is written well. Swain's inexperience definitely shows; sometimes the staging and muffling of words becomes difficult to understand what he is saying at times. Nonetheless, he gets an "A" for effort;

If you must spend money supporting the arts this month, Bianka's Wake is well worth the time, money and energy. Keep in mind that this is a farce with exaggerated characters and storyline. Silliness and fun are what make it a delight.

Bianka's Wake plays at the Doughtery Arts Center Thursday-Saturday through October 21. Info: 512-407-8877.

Our reviewer's rating: A+