Monday, December 19, 2011
Many theatre folk are critical of Tyler Perry's musical plays that criss cross the country year after year before being released on DVD and then adapted into film versions. Thanks to the unfortunate play, Stick Fly, it is now clear that the critics of Mr. Perry's work just don't get it and that he really has created something masterful.
Stick Fly is a bourgie melodrama that is so far outside of the experience of any living person, that one has to wonder if it's meant to be a farce. The audience laughs uncomfortably at scenes that are played with such sincerity, one has to wonder if the cast even understands just how dreadful the work is. Tyler Perry's plays tell similar tales, but the most wrenching of melodramatic moments are capped off in song, and whenever the play starts taking itself to seriously, in comes Tyler Perry in full Medea drag, to take the piss out of the situation, identify the ridiuculousness of the situation, and slap (sometimes literally) some sense into the hyper-realistic characters. Stick Fly has no music (aside from Ms. Keys' pleasing under-score) to punctuate the emotional insanity, and no Medea to make it clear that there is nothing serious about these inane situations. As a result, the show takes itself way too seriously and fails to connect with any sense of reality or emotional truth.
Stick Fly tickets can be purchased here.
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