By Gaby Gollub
Robert Post belongs in the White House. As an astute court jester, a head chef or president, Post could find himself a welcome home. But before making any political move, he will perform Here in America in Finney Chapel Saturday at 8 p.m.
Post's one-man theater company combines mime, impersonation, physical comedy and much more in its self-declared "illegitimate theater." Humor, insight, physical feats reminiscent of Buster Keaton and a large cast of characters make his performance truly enchanting.
Twelve years of Catholic school gave Post a start to his brand of humor. Watching his grandmother break into song and dance at family gatherings, including funerals, contributed to his style of entertainment. Vaudeville and juggling acts on "The Ed Sullivan Show" also pitched in. He then moved on to Ohio State University, where absurdist literature greeted and dazzled him. Deciding all great literature fit in this genre of Samuel Beckett and Eugene Ionesco, Post went on to develop his theater.
With his home in Columbus, Post has performed internationally during his 22-year career. His stages have included prisons, factories and street corners, in addition to concert halls, river boats, dinner theaters and other colleges. He has yet to find a home on television, except for occasional commercials and a special that PBS stations regularly air.
At his Finney show, Post will be performing Here in America, a combination of five outrageous skits. In "Private Zeno," he plays the title character who wears a chef's hat and angel's wings, makes omelets and mimics presidents past, as well as the current one, who has "been in a coma ever since he's been in office."
Interspersed with an acrobatic, mimed version of the cooking process, he throws out political commentary and comedy. "What's the nation's greatest problem: ignorance or apathy?" he asks. After a few motions, he answers himself, "I don't know and I don't care."
Following his metamorphosis from one character to the next proves a worthwhile task, as he expertly assumes the voices of Nixon, Perot, Clinton, John F. Kennedy and his dog, Caucus. As an army officer, he pleads the American cause for military action, in a greatly extended metaphor for sexual intercourse whose ultimate goal is "to plant the seed of democracy."
Not only does Post write all his own work, he also does his own stunts. Equipped with kitchen tools, he spins a plate on the point of a knife, prepares an omelet in under a minute (without the omelet) and launches into a percussive piece. Metal bowls figure largely in "Private Zeno," sometimes as bowls, other times as helmets, often being casually tossed through the air and caught easily.
Other skits include "Just Another Head," in which Post depicts a starkly different interpretation of the Seven Ages of Man. The audience sees only his head, as it moves from birth to boot camp to marriage to war. "Beyond the Wall (a Mystery)" involves Post playing six characters and a small black wall providing several sets. Wigs, frozen expressions and accents transform Post from an inebriated British woman to her husband, a stuffed Scottish corpse to a French woman and her German husband. The wall convincingly works as a car, a bathtub and a castle door.
Speaking directly to the audience, treating his elastic body like just another prop and uttering sound effects, Post incorporates his minimal set and simple props into a magnificent, entertaining, intriguing show overall.
At Finney, Post will surely create real characters, amaze and amuse the audience and give an outstanding performance. Maybe after the show, Post will make the trip to D.C.
Robert Post will be performing Here in America Saturday at 8 p.m. in Finney Chapel. Tickets are available at Wilder Information Desk;$4 for students with OCID, $6 for staff and senior citizens, and $8 for others.
One man theater: Robert Post combines strange humor and body contortions to bring his minimalist, political humor to life.
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