'Empty Plate' full of rich theater fare

IT'S LATEST PLAY DISHES UP TALE OF A MISERABLE LIFE

Cathalena E. Burch Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Friday, April 30, 2010

Warning: Don't come to see Invisible Theatre's production of "An Empty Plate in the Café du Grand Boeuf" on an empty stomach.

You'll torture yourself as plate by plate of French dishes is described in a saliva-inducing feast of adjectives and adverbs.

Descriptions are all you will get; the real food is left in the kitchen in this one-act play by Michael Hollinger and all we see are empty plates served to Monsieur Victor (Roberto Guajardo), the millionaire proprietor of the finest restaurant in the world whose only diner is himself.

Victor's devoted staff - the stammering new-kid-in-the-dining room Antoine (Brad Kula), the gastronomically sadistic waiter Claude (Sean Dupont), his unhappy wife/waitress Mimi (Carrie Hill) and chef Gaston (David Alexander Johnston) - are determined to dissuade him from his wish to die of starvation in his restaurant.

Throughout the 90-minute production, admirably directed by Samantha K. Wyer, the staff delivers empty dish after empty dish of savory, sweet, scrumptious culinary masterpieces that would break down a monk's resolve.

review

"An Empty Plate in the Café du Grand Boeuf" presented by Invisible Theatre. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 3 p.m. Sundays, through May 16 at Invisible Theatre, 1400 N. First Ave. 882-9721.

Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@com or 573-4642.

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