L'Universe
At A Contemporary Theatre
By Dan Larsen, for SeattleInsider.com
Originally published by Cox Interactive Media

It's been around 15 hours since I saw the premiere of The Flying Karamazov Brothers' "L'Universe" at A Contemporary Theatre, and I'm still searching for the words to describe what I saw. The best I've come up with is a cross between The Marx Brothers, The Flying Elvises and an evening with Albert Einstein. Like having a physics lesson from a manic, Energizer battery-operated professor with a penchant for the accordion who's taken a hit off of one too many bunsen burners. 

The broad direction of the show aims to explain the workings of the universe in metaphysical terms. The execution, however, comes from a four-man group that seems dislocated from the reality it yearns to analyze: Paul Magid (as Dmitri), Howard Jay Patterson (Ivan), Mark Ettinger (Alexei) and Roderick Kimball (Pavel). The four "brothers" frenetically weave themselves in and out of the unadultered, enjoyably confounding montage in the center of the theatre's cosy quarters, using an impressive array of high-tech tools, gadgetry and methods to entertain and teach the fundamentals of the "unified field theory", invoking more personalities than Mel Blanc. The theory is the work, and the problem standing in the way of proving it is people. "You are the problem," they state to the audience, picking out various subjects from a real-time photo taken of the center rows.

What ensues in the attempt to prove the unified field theory is a series of skits and tricks as equally goofy as they are inspired and visually stunning. One 'Act' in "L'Universe" has one of the brothers playing imaginary volleyball with a giant on-screen ball, being assaulted by an almighty hand and, finally, juggling planets. Even one of the children from the audience, in a crowd-pleasing turn that demonstrated the unchoreographed elements could be just as entertaining as the choreographed, was invited down to knock a planet back and forth.

In another Act, the four brothers, dressed like something from a Star Trek fetishists convention, create a musical melody purely with the use of sonar devices attached to their bodies. Utilizing new technologies from the labs of MIT, the visual and audio display, with the four men working in stupifying choreography, is something that's hard to forget. 

There is sometimes the sense that the brothers move at a pace too frenetic for the technology to keep up with them, though. A section in which they juggle lighted clubs that change color according to which brother is holding them highlights this in particular. What really should have been one of the most impressive stunts among the evening's high-tech clownery was numbed somewhat by the limits of the technology (the clubs didn't change fast enough, creating more a blur than a visual jaw-dropper). Ironically, the simpler effects and stunts were the most enjoyable.

But those are minor points. Even the dropping of clubs was turned into a part of the act, with well-timed quips that demonstrated how unabashedly comfortable the brothers are with their flaws and even with jokes and retorts so cheesy you can only laugh along with them. "Shall we plunge ahead?" one asks between acts. He produces -- you guessed it -- a plunger, and goes to work on his own head.

It is for that reason that "L'Universe" is so entertaining. The MIT-induced wizadry is impressive enough, but it's the Karamazov Brothers' familiarity with the audience and their drive for showmanship that makes them a world-class act. I can honestly say I haven't seen an act this original, inspired and downright entertaining outside of London's Covent Garden.

The Flying Karamazov Brothers are only in Seattle until January 30th, so don't miss this chance to see them before the rest of the country does. Tickets are available from Tickets.com or by calling ACT at (206) 292-7676.

Advisory notice: The press has been asked to let it be known (i.e the press has had its complimentary tickets dangled teasingly above its heads until agreement was reached) that "L'Universe" does not include "The Challenge," the Brothers' juggling routine with objects supplied by the audience. So leave the bowling balls, dead fish, ball-peen hammers and throwing midgets at home.

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