Hitchcock Blonde at The Jungle Theater on 2/24/09

By: David de Young

Heidi Bakke and J.C. Cutler in the Jungle Theater's Hitchcock Blonde - Photo by Michal Daniel

Well-cast and remarkably even, Hitchcock Blonde is augmented further by evocative sets and meticulous film design. The hour and 40 minutes of the first act alone are surprisingly not tedious (though it admittedly helped that we were forewarned of act one’s length as we entered the theater). The sustained energy was enough that I would have almost been happy (bladder willing) if the 2 hour and 45 minute show had run straight through. (Note, I said “almost.”)

After recorded pre-show music consisting of selections from various Hitchcock films, the curtain rises to film student, Nicola (Heidi Bakke) with her Hitchcock expert and media studies professor, Alex (J.C. Cutler) in Alex’s university office in England. Alex convinces Nicola (less than half his age) to run off to the Greek island of Kalithia with him to restore an old film. The rest of the action of the play takes place either on the island in 2003, or in 1959 on the set of a Hitchcock’s Pyscho, at Hitch’s house, and the kitchen of the unnamed blonde who played Janet Leigh’s body double in Psycho. The show is expertly woven together with restored footage from an imaginary 1919 film called The Uninvited Guest. (Film design for this production of Hitchcock Blonde is by Mike Hanisch, and those segments feature Antoinette Trussoni, credited in the program as “The 1919 Blonde.”)

A review of another theater company’s production of this play that I read claimed the script “out-Hitchcocks Hitchcock,” which may be giving it a little too much credit. Johnson’s script is ambitious and overreaches at times, but it succeeds frequently enough that you’d rather he overreached and missed than eliminate the tricky parts altogether.  Hitchcock Blonde is a smart commentary on more than just film, and includes themes of voyeurism, the reasons for middle-aged men's interest in young women, and deception and seduction of all sorts. This is a script I can see myself enjoying if I were to simply sit down and read it.

J.C. Cutler an Alex created the perfect amount of empathy for his character, despite the deception in which he engaged. Heidi Bakke’s British accent as Nicolla was so good I was surprised to learn she wasn’t British. (I actually had the accent pegged for a real one from North Wales.) The chemistry between Bakke and Alex is real and grounds the production in a believable, present tense reality despite the fantasy and imagination on the fringes and flashbacks. The cast is rounded out by steady performances from Mikki Daniels as “the Blonde,” Eric Knutson as her husband, and Tom Sherohman - who had Hitch’s mannerisms and voice down pat – as the famous filmmaker himself. 

This production opened several weeks ago to mixed reviews, many of which were less than favorable. But I really liked it, so perhaps the production has gotten better during the run. (Or gasp, perhaps some of my colleagues were simply wrong about it!)  I know it’s early in year, but this was one of the most fun productions I’ve seen so far in 2009. 

Hitchcock Blonde runs through March 7^th at the Jungle. Tickets and more info at http://www.jungletheater.com or 612-822-7063.

Location Info: The Jungle Theater
Artist Info: The Jungle Theater

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