by John Quinn

Posted: Jan. 23, 2015 at 12:08 a.m.

It’s been an unusual season for The Critic, and I’ve been exposed to some unconventional theater. Unlike the flu virus, the shows are not sickening. Far from it – even for the terminally jaded like yours truly, these ventures to the fringes of conventional theater are mind-broadening experiences. It gives one a new perspective on the fundamentals of narrative art. Plus, they’ve been great entertainment.

The subject today is a one-man show with the unwieldy title, “Men are From Mars – Women are From Venus Live!” It’s described as a “fusion of theatre and stand-up,” starring Peter Story, a Los Angeles-based actor with a number of television and film credits listed on the Internet Movie Database website. But another part of his resume is more pertinent. He’s a regular storyteller with the LA arm of The Moth, the New York based initiative dedicated to preserving the art of storytelling. The Moth, NYC, is home to Edgar Oliver, whose one man show, “Helen & Edgar,” was hosted by Ann Arbor’s University Musical Society earlier this month. The contrasts between the productions are obvious, the similarities are less so. Both storytellers demonstrate the elemental power of the spoken word to elicit an emotional response in their audiences, which puts “Mars/Venus” firmly on the theatrical side of any “theatre/stand-up fusion.”

There are theatrical events that have more unusual roots than “Men are From Mars – Women are From Venus Live!” “Cats,” anyone (seriously, take my cats – please.)? The stage show is inspired by the eponymous book by Dr. John Gray, American author and relationship counselor. It’s described by Amazon as “The most well-known, long-lived, and tried-and-tested relationships guide ever.” They should know. Seven million-plus copies of “Mars/Venus” have been sold, and it spent 121 weeks on the best-seller lists. It would appear that the stage version was born in Paris in 2007, but book and play share a common outlook. Dr. Gray asserts there are fundamental psychological differences between the sexes so profound as to suggest men and women are from different planets, each with its unique customs and mores. I cannot attest to the veracity of this theory; it’s aroused controversy among academics. I need this gig to feed the cats, and Larry Summers lost his job as President of Harvard by merely suggesting that men and women learn differently. It’s a shame he was forced to take a government job, but perhaps he had cats to feed, too. But I digress. The book remains wildly popular and the play is wildly funny.

Regardless of playwright Eric Coble’s talent in turning social science into comedy – and the script is a winner – it’s the performance the makes “Mars/Venus” glow. Peter Story’s two hours on stage is a hyperactive endurance test, broken up by two mini-films by Dr. Gray. He illustrates some cogent points, aided by animations created by Bazillion Productions. Whatever material pre-dates the actor’s participation, it has been thoroughly personalized; it’s Story’s story now. What is apparent to the trained eye and ear (C’est moi) is his ability to read his audience. Make no mistake – as you’re watching him, he’s watching you. The two-way communication established draws an audience into the show, and oral responses from the crowd are fielded by Mr. Story with the aplomb of a seasoned improvisationalist.

The teamwork between actor and his director, Mindy Cooper make this production clean and sharp. “Clean” in terms of performance; the material is definitely adult. Yet the show lacks the raunch that passes for comedy in these decadent times and is about as naughty as a well-executed Can-Can.

Opening night was cold and snowy, as Detroit in January usually is. A trip “Mars/Venus” might spice up a cold bedroom the way cinnamon and cloves spice up cider. It’ll definitely provide a new view of that significant other of yours, regardless of planet of origin.

SHOW DETAILS: “Men are from Mars – Women are from Venus Live!”
City Theatre
2301 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48201
8 p.m. Friday – Saturday Jan. 23 & 24
3 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, Jan. 24 & 25
Running time: 2 hours (including a 15-minute intermission)
$54
313-471-6611
OlympiaEntertainment.com

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