The Most Lamentable and Tragick Tragiful Tragedy of The Ambassadors (A Tragedy of Tragical Proportions)

The other night I witnessed the newest production of Nova Arts Project. Nova seeks "to recreate classics and inspire new works in a fearlessly theatrical way." No doubt fresh takes on classical forms are being created. This play was probably one of the most silly and fun things I've seen in a theatre. The Ambassadors seems a blend of Commedia Dell’ Arte and Tragedia Dell’Arte. "Unlike Commedia, however, a Tragedia doesn’t have a happy ending. It has a bloody, gory, violent, over-the-top gruesome ending, usually featuring tomatoes."

Whats great about Nova is that they encourage heckling, comments and interaction during the play. A man who had probably had one too many Modelos laughed loudly at many unexpected moments which forced the audience to follow suit.

Be prepared for toilet humor and a hunchback with a wooden spoon for a hand who is constantly trying to get in his mothers pants, lots of tomatoes and sauce at the end. Everyone dies.

Especially great were Gara Mora Murillo and Pablo Duran Rojas of Spain who met Project Artistic Associate Bernardo Cubria at a three month workshop last fall in Reggio Emilia, Italy taught by Commedia Dell’Arte Maestro Antonio Fava. Murillo and Rojas contributed a Borat-esque naivete in their characters and gave me the most laughs. I'm not sure if this is simply because they are good actors or if it is more of the mystique of a foreigner. Perhaps a little of both. A good actor would have to know how to play that card.

Go see it! Runs through Sunday, April 15 at 8:00pm, with a midnight performance Saturday, Saturday, April 14, and no performance on Tuesday, April 10. The production runs at the Midtown Arts Center, 3414 LaBranch, Houston, 77004. Tickets are $10-$15 and reservations can be made by calling the Nova Arts Project office at 713-623-4033 or emailing: info@novaartsproject.com.