Cult films are so in, bra, and the 1991 stage adaptation of the Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze surfing action flick, “Point Break,” is no exception. “ Point Break Live!,” which opened at a new venue in Hollywood called The Dragonfly, this past Friday, is not just any film to stage adaptation, but rather an interactive show where — get this — a different audience member plays Keanu Reeves each evening for “ultimate realism.”
Flippin’ sweet, dude.
Like the hipper grandson to “The Rocky Horror Picture Show“, “Point Break Live!” has its own loyal following of fans who spout off the lines like high school pep rally cheers responding to the actors in the tight, dimly-lit Dragonfly venue. Moved from a theater in Downtown LA, “Point Break Live!” features the same cast of enthusiastic, energetic actors who seem to relish the opportunity to fight, surf, mug, and, perhaps most importantly, over-act.
For those, like me, who were unfamiliar with “Point Break’s” premise, here it is: an 
undercover FBI agent named Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) must go undercover as a surfer to discover whether a group of surfer dudes led by Bodhi (Patrick Swayze) are also bank robbers known as “The Ex-Presidents” who have been stealing thousands in the Los Angeles area. Mix that plot with crusty police agents with access to helicopters, a femme fatale, and a whole lot of beer guzzling, and you’ve got an action flick absurd enough to be hilarious.
Upon entering the theater, each audience member receives a “survival kit” stuffed with a poncho, a wad of napkins, and paper bills that feature Keanu Reeves’ and Patrick Swayze’s faces pasted over the faces of Washington and Lincoln. I’m still unsure as to what the napkins and the “money” were for (I, at least, was not informed upon arrival as the bouncer and management at the venue seemed disorganized and confused about how to manage crowds in the new location, but more on that later), but the poncho was a must for the “ocean spray” squirted at audience members during intense surfing sequences. Luckier audience members closest to the front of the stage even received hearty sprays of fake blood spurted from wounded mouths and limbs.
The best audience interaction was, of course, with the integration of a chosen audience member to play Keanu Reeves’ part as undercover FBI agent, “Johnny Utah.” At the beginning of the show, whoever wanted to tackle Utah’s role had to audition by reciting one line: “Hi, I’m Johnny Utah.” Of course, the vote was entirely determined by a popular contest, though perhaps I’m biased that my boyfriend with his long, straightened hair and surfer dude vocalization did not earn the part. So, if you long to be Utah, bring a whole group of loud buddies with you who can cheer you on after it’s your turn to utter Keanu’s famous four words.
Of course, those willing to be Utah must also be prepared for the demanding rigor of acting. True, Keanu’s not known for his subtlety or nuanced skill, but he basically appears in every scene of the play/film. A peppy girl with cue cards follows “Johnny” through the action, not merely passively handing him lines, but commenting upon his actions as well and stepping in for him when he must fight or partake in any other “extreme action.” While the girl holding cue cards may have wanted to make more of her part then, well, holding cue cards, her commentary upon Utah’s already hilariously dim-witted lines seemed unnecessary and, for the most part, cloying. However, given the din of audience members talking, yelling, and laughing throughout the entire production, her commentary was mostly drowned out anyhow.
The production’s greatest strength was its tacky translation of the film’s sets and props. Two small televisions showed close-ups on the action from a handy-cam throughout the entire show adding to “Point Break’s” bohemian style and ambiance. A kiddie pool represented the ocean while actors turned sheets into makeshift waves. Even without a viewing of the film, the low-budget sets and costumes made the show feel like it was performed in the neighborhood garage, which is exactly how it should have been.
The Dragonfly’s venue itself, however, was not the best place for the production. Loud, tinny, dark, and cramped, I watched the entire show standing at a bar, straining to hear dialogue over drunken demands for beer behind me. It was not that the dialogue was important, but constant intoxicated bantering and side conversations from both people at the bar and people seated in front of the stage was annoying for a newcomer. While the interaction between audience members and actors was fun and vibrant, I expected there to be a little more control over the audience and for the show to feel more like a show then a show that just so happened to be plopped inside a bar. With a little alcohol coursing through my system, perhaps I would have enjoyed the play more and joined in on the drunken revelry of the audience members, but when I could hear the actors strutting their stuff, they were well-trained and fun to watch.
The end of the play was another unfortunate low point. With the actors reduced to screaming over the steadily more drunk audience members, the outrageous ending should have been gut-busting, but instead grew dull and tiresome. Loudness does not equal entertainment value and in the last five minutes, I felt like I had had enough extreme action to keep me going for a while. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy over-the-top action; screaming and yelling simply did not feel like fun to me.
“Point Break Live!” is an experience worth having, especially for fans of the film, but like any interactive theater, don’t go to watch the plot.
Point Break Live!
- Price: $20.00 (Buy Now)
- The Dragonfly
- 6510 Santa Monica Boulevard
- Los Angeles, CA 90038 (Map)
- More info at: Point Break Live!
*Photo #1 courtesy of Point Break Live!
*Photo #2 courtesy of IMDB.
*Photo #3 courtesy of Point Break Live!
Subscribe to our RSS Feed And checkout our coffee competition to win a $30 gift voucher to your favourite coffee shop : click here
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
0 responses so far ↓
Subscribe to our RSS Feed and leave a comment to enter the commentator of the week competition and win a $20 Amazon.com gift voucher.
Leave a Comment