6 STORY BUILDING
nytheatre.com review by Stephen Graybill
August 15, 2002
If you go see any show this summer at FringeNYC, you MUST go see
6 Story Building, playing at the Kraine Theater. Without
a doubt, this show will steal the festival. The five actors
Marcus Weiss, Wendy Echols, Colin Stokes, Sheila Murphy, and
Kevin Del Aguila (also writer/director) kept me smiling all
night long with their intelligent, hysterical, and captivating
show about an apartment building, 6 stories high. 6 Story Building is a little hard to describe, since there is no single story in it. The uncontrollable interaction between the tenants of the building gives us a through-line to relate to as we watch seven vignettes unfold in front of us. From the two building mechanics philosophizing about the facts of life in the basement during "Subplot," to two cheerful New York City newcomers who cannot help but belt their naive emotions to music in "Suite Harmony," the characters bowl us over with their hilarious tales
The ingenious writing of Kevin Del Aguila reminds me very strongly of David Ives and his collection Mere Mortals. The rapid-fire rhythm and humorous tone in each scene matches the next, and I found myself eagerly waiting with confident excitement to see what new comedy would ensue.
The acting in this show is nothing short of truly professional. Throughout the show my sides were hurting and my eyes teared with laughter. Their comedic timing is immaculate and I could only watch in admiration, hoping to learn something from this group of genius performers.
The set is made up of simple items, the lighting enhances the text, and the sound (when it worked) suits the light-hearted tone of the show very well. All of it focuses our attention more on the action and words of the play, complementing the dialogue exceptionally, and seamlessly binding things together.
If you see any show at FringeNYC this year, experience the brilliance of 6 Story Building.
