I just caught San Valentino & The Melancholy Kid at The House. It's written by Nathan Allen and directed by Dennis Watkins, with music by the Trick Hearts. It's pretty much everything it's supposed to be--it's got cowboys (who, I swear, are the next pirates--and if this isn't proof, I don't know what is), a live rockabilly band (fronted by Nathan Allen, the Melancholy Kid himself {which, in case you didn't know, means sad--but a special kind}, who reminds me of Grant-lee Philips), special effects, interesting facial hair, a really good violinist, and bicycles playing horses.
I can't tell you how big a fan I am of The House. Their last show was Death and Harry Houdini, written and directed by Nathan Allen. Dennis Watkins played Harry and performed many of his tricks on stage during the show. The Melancholy Kid featured knife juggling, a man snapping a cigarette in half with a whip (as it dangled from the Kid's mouth), an Indian attack and plenty of musical interludes.
Stephen Taylor stands out as Ollie, the King of the Quick Draw, who sold his soul to the Devil for a gun that can't miss, and the making of beef stroganoff at the hands of Cubby is something to behold. The play itself is comedic, mythic, and tragic. It's also part one of the Valentine Tragedy, which is set to continue next year.
San Valentino and the Melancholy Kid wraps up on Saturday; The House's next show is The Rocket Man, written by Phillip C. Klapperich (inspired by the works of Ray Bradbury) and directed by Nathan Allen.
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