The Second Coming of Klaus Kinski Remounted at The Blank’s Second Stage

Hollywood Fringe Festival 2017by Ernest Kearney — Klaus Kinski (1926-1991) was celebrated for his talent and disparaged for the madness that served as its foundation.  Today he is best remembered for his collaborations with director Werner Herzog in films like Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) and Fitzcarraldo (1982), and for the recent charges of sexual abuse coming from his daughters Pola and Nastassja.

The Second Coming of Klaus Kinski writer and performer Andrew Perez presents Kinski and all his demons with such unnerving commitment that the stench of sulfur burns the eyes of the audience.  It is not so much a portrayal by an actor as the actor’s possession by the character.  And it is riveting to behold.

Platinum MedalPerez captures in Kinski’s raging that cataract of pain that was the source of his talents; giving truth to the statement that every human being is an abyss.

Aided by Adele Cabot whose voice provides brief counterpoints of sanity, and under the amazingly adroit direction of Eric Johnson, who manages to choreograph this volcanic caldera of creative chaos, Perez delivers perhaps the most gripping performance of this Fringe.  Or of next year’s Fringe for that matter.

PLATINUM MEDAL, easily.

 

Written by

An award-winning L.A. playwright and rabble-rouser of note who has hoisted glasses with Orson Welles, been arrested on three continents and once beat up Charlie Manson. His first play, "Among the Vipers" was a semi-finalist in the Julie Harris Playwriting Competition and was featured in the Carnegie-Mellon Showcase of New Plays. It was produced at the NPT Theater in Ashland, Oregon and Los Angeles’ celebrated Odyssey Ensemble Theatre. His following play, “The Little Boy Who Loved Monsters” was produced at The Hollywood Actors Theater, where he earned praise from the Los Angeles Times for his “…inordinately creative writing.” The play went on to numerous other productions including Berlin’s The Black Theatre under the direction of Rainer Fassbinder who wrote in his program notes of Kearney, “He is a skilled playwright, but more importantly he is a dangerous one.” Ernest Kearney has worked as literary manager or as dramaturge for among others The Hudson Theater Guild, Nova Diem and the Odyssey Ensemble Theatre, where he still serves on the play selection committee. He has been the recipient of two Dramalogue Awards and a finalist or semi-finalist, three times, in the Julie Harris Playwriting Competition. His work has been performed by Michael Dunn, Sandra Tsing Loh, Jack Colvin and Billy Bob Thornton, and to date, either as playwright or director, he has upwards of a hundred and thirty productions under his belt, including a few at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater as puppeteer. Kearney remains focused on his writing, as well as living happily ever after with his lovely wife Marlene. His stage reviews and social essays can be found at TheTVolution.com and workingauthor.com. Follow him on Facebook.

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