THE HANGOVER REPORT – The youthful BLACK FEMINIST VIDEO GAME throws spaghetti at the wall, and it (mostly) sticks

Christon Andell in the Civilians’ virtual production of “Black Feminist Video Game” by Darrel Alejandro Holnes.

I recently got the chance to stream Black Feminist Video Game, the latest virtual production from the Civilians. The ever-probing theater company scored a solid hit during the pandemic with its ambitious and hilarious Russian Troll Farm. Their latest is similarly ambitious – Black Feminist Video Game, which is written by Darrel Alejandro Holnes and directed by Victoria Collado, weaves in audience interaction (via chat) and an alternate video game world to tell the story of Jonas and his teenage quest to win back the affections of his girlfriend.

In tone, the piece calls to mind the works of Joe Iconis, particularly the cult musical Be More Chill and the cabaret show Two Player Game. These works are sweet but sophomoric depictions of geeky teenage angst and obsession, which is not necessarily a bad thing – but the aesthetic may not be, understandably, everyone’s cup of tea. They also share an affinity for retro video games, so those of you who have a soft spot for the pixelated 2D video/computer games of the 1980s and 1990s will be particularly drawn to Black Feminist Video Game.

But what distinguishes Black Feminist Video Game is how it attempts to tackle so many contemporary social issues within its heavily stylized construction. Indeed, feminism, autism, racism, bullying, and queer identity are all addressed in varying degrees over the course of the show’s speedy 70-minute running time. If it feels like Mr. Holnes is throwing spaghetti on the wall, it’s probably because he is – and somehow it mostly sticks because of the guileless charm of it all.

The cast is a young, diverse, and lively bunch. Although none of them will win any awards for their acting, there’s something endearing about their open-hearted performances. Most importantly, in the central role Jonas, Christon Andell is simply adorable without being cloying; his performance is characterized by a lovable youthfulness and disarming transparency that was a joy to watch. Ms. Collado directs the piece with nods to new technology and modes of communication, as well as a fabulously nerdy appreciation for retro gaming.

RECOMMENDED

BLACK FEMINIST VIDEO GAME
Theater / Live-streamed & on-demand
The Civilians
1 hour, 10 minutes (without an intermission)
Through May 9

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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