Description

No Strings Theatre Company presents "Cockeyed," an entertaining and charming romantic comedy written by William Missouri Downs and directed by NSTC's Artistic Director, Ceil Herman, at the Black Box Theatre, 430 N Downtown Mall in Las Cruces. "Cockeyed" opens on Friday, November 19 and runs through Sunday, December 5, 2010

The story concerns Phil, an average nice guy, who is madly in love with the beautiful Sophia. The only problem is that she's unaware of his existence. He tries to introduce himself but she looks right through him. When Phil discovers Sophia has a glass eye, he thinks that might be the problem, but soon realizes that she really can't see him. Perhaps he is caught in a philosophical hyperspace or dualistic reality or perhaps beautiful women are just unaware of nice guys. Armed only with a B.A. in philosophy, Phil sets out to prove his existence and win Sophia's heart. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch called Cockeyed a "clever romantic comedy," Talkin' Broadway called it "hilarious," while Playback Magazine said that it was "fresh and invigorating."

Credits

Reviews

Romance gets a little skewed in 'Cockeyed'
No Strings comedy is nice diversion
- By David Edwards, Las Cruces Bulletin

Have you ever felt like you were being treated as if you don't exist? People having conversations about you in the third person that make you say, "Hello, I'm right here." Or maybe you hope that a member of the opposite sex that you find attractive will somehow notice you, but they seem oblivious to your presence.

I never really felt invisible; women noticed me enough to be able to tell me they didn't want to go out with me.

Or if I did manage to secure a date, I sometimes was told that I was "too nice." I developed a theory similar to the one put forth by William Missouri Downs in his play "Cockeyed," which premiered last week by the No Strings Theatre Company at the Black Box Theater. Women don't want nice guys, they want someone who will treat them badly (maturity has served to temper that theory, a generalization, of course, only a bit). I definitely suffered from "nice guy syndrome."

I didn't suffer from it to the extreme that Phil, the protagonist of "Cockeyed," does.

He literally cannot be seen by the girl of his dreams Sophia, who works in his office. And it isn't as he first believes after talking to her for the first time that it is because she has a glass eye (something she has tried unsuccessfully to keep from everyone), there is some alternate reality at play here, and she actually cannot see or hear him. Sophia is going out with her boss, V.P. Marley, who is decidedly not a nice guy, and there are some shady goings-on with a proposed merger.

It all ultimately ends up having to do with philosophy and philosophers and what makes us as humans exist. The script is very clever, and there is a great deal of humor derived from Phil's "invisibility," especially when he goes to Sophia's apartment to find a misplaced file followed by his friend and coworker Norman and ultimately boss Marley.

Sophia's mom calls from upstairs every five minutes to check on her and remind her that her biological clock is ticking.

The cast consists of Donny Prosise as Phil, Britney Bunker as Sophia, Patrick McKinley as Norman and Levi Nolasco as Marley. Heather Castillo appears as a character referred to as The Voice, but she physically appears onstage in a small but significant role. The performances are all consistently good with some newcomers who do very nicely in their first Black Box appearances and veteran Bunker making a welcome return. Ceil Herman's direction is very lively and creative, complemented by Debra Knapp's disco choreography and Peter Herman's scenery and lighting.

"Cockeyed" is a very enjoyable evening of theater and is a great diversion to the approaching holiday madness. You'll enjoy it and learn some philosophy in the process. The play continues at the Black Box Theatre, 430 N. Downtown Mall, through Sunday, Dec. 5, including shows over Thanksgiving weekend.

Seating

No seating plan has been posted.