ASTRO BOY AND THE GOD OF COMICS

The words “You’ve never seen anything like this before” may sound cliché, but trust me, you have never seen anything like Sacred Fools’ West Coast Premiere of Natsu Onoda Power’s Astro Boy And The God Of Comics, a mind-boggling blend of fact and fantasy that weaves together human performers and live action with still-&-animated video projections, puppets, and most exciting of all, live cartooning by some skilled actors/pen-&-ink artists—all of which adds up to what is certain to be one of the summer’s most gigantic hits.

11009892_10207064821237808_2186398083223239159_n The play’s title suggests its reverse chronology. We first get to know the exploits of the boy known in Japan as 鉄腕アトム, or Tetsuwan Atomu, or Mighty Atom, before being introduced to Astro Boy’s creator about halfway through.

11229282_10207064824157881_5706065624892678289_n Astro Boy And The God Of Comics’ main title opening sequence is our first hint at the magic ahead, combining FX video and actors-with-Sharpies for a feat of live cartooning that not only earns oohs and aahs, it sets the fantastical tone of what’s ahead.

11351335_10207064812917600_7882042017601115022_n Then comes the first of Astro Boy’s dozen backwards-heading episodes, each told in its own unique style, with a live TV anchorwoman announcing our plucky young hero’s latest—and quite possibly last—exploit, one that has Tetsuwan Atom (Heather Schmidt) flying sunward to prevent Earth’s destruction, even if it means meeting his own.

11539592_10207064809077504_8105735836138375265_n We then head back in time to witness Astro Boy’s live-action laboratory birth, other sequences combining a dazzling a display of video techniques before Astro Boy creator Osamu Tezuka (West Liang) takes centerstage and we get to know the man behind the cartoon from death to birth.

Tezuka may be best known for his trademark beret, but under it stood a man deeply scarred by the WWII bombings he witnessed as a child. (A scene in which actors live-sketch a huge Guernica-like charcoal mural only to have it destroyed by a projected nuclear explosion is a stunner).

11140274_10207064820397787_832300982967126279_n Regardless of the inspiration behind Astro Boy, Tezuka’s creation has gone on to inspire generation after generation of children with his battle against the forces of evil, whether in comic book form or as the star of his own animated TV series back in the 1960s.

11188178_10207064824797897_6340593857909918854_n Theater doesn’t get any more collaborative than Sacred Fools’ Astro Boy And The God Of Comics, from its brilliantly inspired director Jaime Robledo to live art director Aviva Pressman to scenic designer DeAnne Millais to lighting designer Matt Richter to costume designer Linda Muggeridge to sound designer Robledo to original music composer Ryan Johnson to prop designer Brandon Clark to projection animation designer Jim Pierce to stunt/fight choreographer Mike Mahaffey to suzuki trainer Joe Fria to projection video designer Anthony Backman to playwright Power’s own puppet design. (Can you say “It takes a village” … or in this case a village of Sacred Fools?)

And speaking of Sacred Fools, ensembles don’t get any more multitalented than actor-artists Zach Brown, Megumi Kabe, Anthony Li, Mandi Moss, Jaime Puckett, and Marz Richards, who not only bring to life a multitude of roles and but display high-speed sketch artistry that must be seen to be believed.

Leading man Liang adds an authentic, human face to the evening’s madcap magic and an equally terrific Schmidt delights as Tezuka’s spunky, evil-battling boy hero.

1947900_10207064813917625_271292362003153063_n Additional program credits go to lead producer-technical supervisor Brian W. Wallis, assistant director Rebecca Larsen, and associate producers Shaunessy Quinn and Seamus Sullivan, and to understudies Gregory Guy Gorden, Lisa Anne Nicolai, Pressman, Erin Sanzo, and Scot Shamblin.

Heatherlynn Gonzalez is stage manager and Suze Campagna assistant stage manager.

11012203_10207064824557891_5291218173573541292_n Astro Boy And The God Of Comics brings to a close a banner year for Sacred Fools following their recent Stage Raw Awards-sweeping hits Taste and The Behavior Of Broadus.

You can expect to see lines around the corner for weeks and weeks to come as theater buffs, graphic novel lovers, manga fanatics, and Astro Boy fans far and near await this most thrilling of summer theatrical treats.

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Sacred Fools Theater, 660 N. Heliotrope Dr., Hollywood.
www.sacredfools.org

–Steven Stanley
June 20, 2015
Photos: Jessica Sherman Photography

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