January 29, 2005
Keanu at his best.
Us HFT kids went to a play this week. That in and of itself is news-worthy. But the show we saw was really hilarious.
Point Break LIVE! is a stage adaptation of the 90's blockbuster movie "Point Break.," starring Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze and Gary Busey's teeth. The movie by itself is an amazing testament to just how awesome American cinema can be.
The stage show, performed at the uberchic Bryant Lake Bowl, attempted to bring to life all of the action sequences, blood and stellar acting of the movie. The crowning achievement of the show, in my estimation, is that the part of Mr. Reeves' character Johnny Utah was played by someone plucked from the audience. The guy who played his part on the night we saw him definitely could pass for a Keanu stand-in. He read from cue cards that were held in front of him the whole show. Amazing. Apparently, not knowing what you're saying while you're saying it is the key to being a good Keanu.
The other performances, on the whole, could've been more effective and/or comedic. But the actors definitely looked the part. And there were enough gut-wrenchingly hilarious moments to make it all worth while. When the back wall of the theatre was opened to reveal a big picture window, the audience got to see the sidewalk on Lake Street filled with "surfers" surfing back and forth, holding their surfboards and wearing parkas. (It was a balmy 15 degrees outside. Even extreme dudes have to keep warm.) There were a couple of citizens who just happened to be walking past at the time, so the whole effect was a stunning display of good theatre.
We laughed a lot. And got sprayed with water. And were held up at gunpoint. It was a good show.
The show is only going to be at the Bryant Lake Bowl through this weekend but hopefully they'll come back. Or maybe they'll tour around the U.S. and come to your fun town.
That would be gnarly.