I think I'm gonna be sick

It is possible, it turns out, to be entertained by talking chickens making fowl puns.

by Chris LaVigne <clavigne@republic-news.org>

Famed British essayist Joseph Addison once wrote, "What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable."

A quotation like this usually triggers my gag reflex. Partially-digested 99-cent pizza is not a pretty sight, hence I steer clear of any books combining the words "chicken soup" and "soul" in the title. For the sake of my digestive system and all those around me, I avoid greeting card stores altogether.

So, I mean it as a compliment when I say that writer Lucia Frangione's play Chickens didn't have that effect on me. Directed by Kerry VanderGriend, the production has many elements that usually make my tummy quiver. There's a farm with talking animals, scenes of completely un-ironic romance, and heavy Christian undertones. Five minutes in and I was wondering if I should have brought along some Pepto-Bismol.

Approximately two hours later, though, not only had the woman sitting in front of me survived the play without needing an umbrella, but I actually felt good. In fact, I felt "hugging-a-stranger" kind of good. Watching Chickens was pure enjoyment--a wholly entertaining experience like I haven't had in a long time.

The play follows the trials of husband and wife Pal and Liza who are struggling to keep their family farm in business and their marriage intact. The couple's melodramatic scenes are thankfully short because the real fun begins when the humans leave the stage and the chickens take over. These fine feathered friends, played by four talented actors, absolutely steal the show. Singing, dancing, and dishing out every poultry pun in the book, these fowl are wonderfully hilarious.

While the narrative of Chickens is kind of a jumble, the jokes come so fast that you never notice. And while I'm sure there's some political subtexts one could mine for (neo-conservative capitalism's colonization of the family farm, blah blah blah), what I'll remember about the play is how much fun it was to watch. It's not often lately I have spent almost two hours straight just smiling. Maybe that's just a trifle, but it sure felt good.

Chickens plays Wednesdays to Saturdays until May 29th at the Pacific Theatre.

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