Saint Joan
'TROG!' lives on at Theatre Rhino
Published 08/24/2006 - by Richard Dodds

Heklina, Matthew Martin and Mike Finn in Trog . Photo: Basul Parik


Liberties have been taken, and thank God for that. Unlike last summer's theatrical rendering of Hush Hush, Sweet Charlotte, which preserved in detail both the screenplay's dreary and fun bits, the stage version of Trog has little allegiance to the lamentable 1970 movie that would mark Joan Crawford's final moments on the Silver Screen.
To be honest, I say "lamentable" based only on its reputation, which includes a pan from Crawford herself. And it is only conjecture what remains of the original screenplay, though I can say with some certainty that it did not incorporate dialogue from Mommie Dearest and Mildred Pierce.

Now at Theatre Rhino, and presented by Steve Murray's Make It So Productions, this creation of Matthew Martin and Mike Finn basically uses Trog as a clothesline on which to hang a non-stop collection of jokes, puns, sight gags, musical numbers, and movie references. Not all of it pays off, at least not on opening night (which was also the production's first night in front of an audience). But enough does to turn Trog into an unexpected summer treat.

Martin, best known for his Bette Davis/Baby Jane impersonations, takes on the persona of Joan Crawford for this outing, which he has also directed. It isn't just an evocation of Crawford's performance as scientist Dr. Brockton in Trog, which, by reports, was a straightforward effort, but an exaggerated accumulation of all we know about Crawford.

Finn, Martin's co-creator of Trog, also plays the title character, and he nearly steals the show from Martin's supersized Crawford. That's no easy feat, especially considering the half-man/half-ape character is virtually mute, but Finn finds a way to comically communicate — and to perform some circus tricks when the researchers aren't looking. It's a tribute to Finn's performance that when he masters a windup toy, the audience actually applauds his accomplishment.

Another stealer of scenes is Heklina, mistress of Trannyshack, who plays Dr. Brockton's daughter Ann, whom her mother keeps calling "Christina." In addition to the sight of a mini-skirted Heklina towering over mommie Martin, she also has a manner that is variously wide-eyed, eye-rolling, and deadpan. Michael Sousa plays with relish the role of the small-minded villager who wants to see Trog destroyed, and Kai Brothers, in a couple of roles, has a blatantly amateurish aura that is used for comic effect.

Trog runs about 70 minutes, which is just about right for a play based on a movie that made its star talk about suicide. But without Trog the movie we wouldn't have Trog the play, and that would be a monstrous shame.
Trog will run at Theatre Rhino through Sept. 23. Tickets are $20. Call 861-5079 or go to therhino.org.