Jan 30, 2017

Review: Montgomery Mauro’s Web Series “The Show” is Funny, Wacky, and Lovable

The Show, which premiered October 15th at Videology Bar and Cinema in Brooklyn, features Devon Rhodes (Montgomery Mauro) an amateur theatre director just trying to catch a break in New York City. His stage manager and long time creative partner (and also the object of his affection) is Rose Stilton (Jessica Damouni). Both barely getting by, they receive a phone call one day from Evan Carr (Frank Lipari), an eccentric - once great - playwright and actor, offering them a chance to direct his comeback show. Excited by the opportunity, they agree to meet with him to review the script over breakfast.

Excitement soon turns to angst when they realize that Mr. Carr is even more bizarre than they could’ve imagined. Hiring the waitress and aspiring actress, Diane Waters (Catherine Beckett) on the spot, they foresee a long and bumpy road bringing this off-off....off ...off Broadway play to life. Despite their hesitation, Devon and Rose agree to collaborate with Evan and soon enough, are holding auditions to fill the remaining roles.

Without much say in the matter, Devon and Rose cast the inexperienced Tony Scuzzarelli (Joseph Talluto), the fish out of water Roman Dunst (Nick Smithson) and the method actress Patricia Ann Hart (Leah Pressman).

With the cast in place, Devon and Rose move from table reads to dress rehearsal to opening night, with the help of their not-so-trusty assistant Paul Rashe (James Meeg), their costume designer Tom Peaches (Austin Cantrell) and set designer, Casey Stundt (Sarah Smallwood Parsons).

Between Evan’s antics and the determination of Dev’s arch nemesis, Chris Dunderson (Alec Lawless), to sabotage the performance, the light at the end of the tunnel continues to dim as opening night quickly approaches.

“The Show” written, directed, and produced by Montgomery Mauro is a lighthearted comedy that pays tribute to the goofy and extreme characters that often inhabit the low-budget theatre world. In fact, Mr. Mauro said that while writing “The Show” he knew “this was a story I had to tell from my perspective. This is my love letter to the theater in film form. To all the wackiness that you can only see in the theatre culture.”

This wackiness is where “The Show” draws it’s strength and uniqueness from. As each episode progresses, the ridiculousness of the story begins to spiral out of control and it envelopes both the characters and us, the audience, in its web. The cast does not shy away from the challenge. Each actor gives in to the style of the series and each delivers a great performance full of hilarious moments ranging from the subtle to the absurd.

Though mockumentary was made to look easy by shows like The Office and Parks and Rec it is a very difficult style of filming for both the crew and the cast. But here, this relatively young cast owns the medium and finds a great balance between the fourth walls breaks and staying in the story.

Credit here must also go to the direction of Montgomery Mauro and his crew of Mackenzie G. Mauro (Director of Photography), Michael Pizzano (Assistant Director), and the Sound Technicians Nathan Bonnetto and Sacha Zuckerman.

“The Show” produced by No2Mauro Productions, features a great script, a talented group of actors, and a skilled crew. The series features six episodes that run approximately fifteen minutes each. Watch the entire series below!