What do a conductor’s hat, a broom, and a set of bowling pins all have in common? They make up half of the cast of “Rails,” a puppet pulp melodrama and the latest production of Philadelphia’s very own Transmissions Theatre.
The company kicked off its 14-day tour of this dark comedy last weekend with two performances at the Rotunda. Inspired by film noir, “Rails” was first performed in the 2009 Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Transmissions Theatre is now taking the play to cities all over the East Coast, including Brooklyn, Baltimore, Asheville, and Decatur. The company will end its tour with a four-day stint in New Orleans for the New Orleans Fringe Festival.
“Rails” tells the story of the honest but blundering Wilbur Burland as he uncovers crooked dealings perpetrated by his straight-spined railyard employer. Wilbur’s comfortable life begins to fall into disarray as he gets closer to solving the mystery. He loses his job; his son insists that trains can fly; and his wife begins more and more to resemble a broom. With a gang of bowling pin thugs on his tail, the only person Wilbur can turn to is a mysterious femme fatale who has her own hidden agenda.
Featuring puppets, live music and a script that runs the gamut from fatal crime to laugh-out-loud slapstick, “Rails” keeps its audience giggling and gasping Nothing captivates the crowd more, however, than the performance given by local singer, actor and poet Kate Black-Regan. Black-Regan steals the show with her portrayals of both Juliette Antioch and Ascher Burland. A cigarette-smoking sadist one moment, a wild and wide-eyed toddler the next, this fiery redhead changes personas as seamlessly as she changes costumes. Throughout the entire one-act play, Black-Regan never loses her energy. Her stage presence is further amplified by the laudable performances of Adam Rzepka, Angela Smith, Rob Cutler and Kristen Bailey.
One can neither overlook the smooth sounds emitting from the accompanying musical guest, Upholstery. The band has been churning out its unique blend of surreal rock and off-kilter jazz since 2007, and their latest album, “Running the Badwater,” will be available next spring. Upholstery provides live scores for all of Transmissions Theatre’s productions, and for good reason. Saxophonist David Fishkin and trombonist Dorie Byrne give “Rails” an extra kick with their rich brass tones, while percussionist Jeremy Prouty and synth player Jason Carr give the saucy music a hint of the ethereal.
A raunchy good time, “Rails” manages to derail its audience with humor and suspense.
