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Saturday, April 11, 2009
Liberating ‘Mister Z’ Deck Party at the Vortex
“Mister Z Loves Company” is one of those shows that defines contemporary Austin theater. It’s outrageously creative. It’s also, plain and simple, outrageous.
Loli Kantor, Tammy Kantor
In fact, parts of it are designed to offend, patently. Yet forewarned audiences secure in their tastes are bound to be mesmerized by parts of it, tickled by other parts.
Dustin L. Struhall, Julianna E. Wright
It’s the love child of Rubber Repertory, which is basically the vaudevillian team of tall, thin, reddish Josh Meyer and short, cut, limber Matt Hislope, along with artistic conspirators.
Tyler Jones, Amy Lewis
To describe it is to rob “Mister Z” of its immediacy. Yet one must share a little. The central couple are the boys in nearly identical masks that make them look a little like a despoiled Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Tamara Mico Jones, Howard Hughs III, Lea Stunning McCauly
They interact, let us just say vividly, mostly on the subjects of sex, loneliness and socializing. They are backed by a chorus of bacchants dressed loosely as French maids.
The Sphinx, Ernie Boden
Anyway, RR has revived this show from their early days — meaning six or so years ago — at the Vortex. It fits neatly into the host Bonnie Cullum’s vision of ritual, spectacle and sexuality.
Alana Maclas, Heather Barfield
Cullum was quite proud of her new deck, which is a beauty. The Vortex is a handmade theater, built essentially from a shed, not even a warehouse. And each step of the way, Cullum and crew have created amenities that make the Vortex a place to gather and linger.
Erin Haggerty, Collin De Lamar
I’m enormously proud of Cullum. We went to graduate school together in the 1980s and socialized easily then. During my years as arts critic, we naturally developed more of a professional distance.
Paul Soileau, Carlos Treviño
Now, it’s so liberating just to kick back on her new deck and treat her as a person, not potential object of formal review.
Amy Bell, Harrison Witt
Back to RR a bit. Meyer and Hislope have miraculously kept not only the look from six years ago, they maintain that energy and sense of wonder that fueled the original “Mister Z.” and softened the routines that, even now, make me a little queasy.
Matt Hislope, Josh Meyer
Fair warning.
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