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Take some laughs from ‘Den of Thieves’
  
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By Sonya Ellingboe
Act I opens with scruffy, depressed, kleptomaniac Maggie (Sara Mae Johnson) clutching a shopping bag filled with her latest acquisitions. With her is preachy 12 Step advocate Paul (David Harms), formerly an expert in safe-cracking, who declares that he has been “theft-free” for 686 days. He wants to enlist her in one of his many 12 Step programs: this one is for recovering thieves.
Paul then goes on the explain the origin of the title, “Den of Thieves” by Stephen Adly Guirgis, which plays through Nov. 29 in a truly funny regional premiere at Vintage Theatre. His grandfather, Morrie Handelmann, was once a member of the violent Jewish gang, Den of Thieves, where he stole from the rich and built libraries in poor neighborhoods.
Bernie Cardell directs this dark comedy about an unlikely bunch of crooks who hatch a plot to rob a disco of $750,000. Cardell writes in his director’s notes that he finds some wisdom amidst the laughs: What is the value of one person to the world? Can one actually have a second chance? Can fathers and sons repair a broken relationship? Cardell has skillfully directed this bunch of losers so each has a distinct voice with some depth.
One is too busy laughing to ponder any deep thoughts as we try to follow Flaco’s flaky logic, expressed by seasoned comic actor Christian Mast as a wannabe Puerto Rican bad guy. He is Maggie’s ex-boyfriend, who comes up with a scheme to break into the safe at a club he knows in Tribeca , where new girlfriend Boochie (Jacqueline Garcia) is an exotic dancer.
Maggie is just beginning to reform and it’s too tempting for her and for the reformed Paul. “Recovery is about progress, not perfection” he declares.
Act II lights go up on this bumbling band of thieves tied in a row of chairs, with bags over their heads. Business owner Big Tuna (Len Matheo), his son Little Tuna (Brian Brooks) and their henchman/chef, Sal (Russ Dale) are understandably offended over the bumbled burglary. When thugs are offended, they don’t play nicely with others. However, this is a comedy, so things work out.
“Den of Thieves” sends the audience out smiling and combines swimmingly with a glass of wine and a nice dinner nearby.
If you go:
“Den of Thieves” by Stephen Adly Guirgis plays through Nov. 29 at Vintage Theatre, 2119 E. 17th Ave., Denver. iPuerto Rican wannabe Flaco. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2:20 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $22 at the door; $17 in advance, 303-839-1361, www.vintagetheatre.com.
Paul then goes on the explain the origin of the title, “Den of Thieves” by Stephen Adly Guirgis, which plays through Nov. 29 in a truly funny regional premiere at Vintage Theatre. His grandfather, Morrie Handelmann, was once a member of the violent Jewish gang, Den of Thieves, where he stole from the rich and built libraries in poor neighborhoods.
Bernie Cardell directs this dark comedy about an unlikely bunch of crooks who hatch a plot to rob a disco of $750,000. Cardell writes in his director’s notes that he finds some wisdom amidst the laughs: What is the value of one person to the world? Can one actually have a second chance? Can fathers and sons repair a broken relationship? Cardell has skillfully directed this bunch of losers so each has a distinct voice with some depth.
One is too busy laughing to ponder any deep thoughts as we try to follow Flaco’s flaky logic, expressed by seasoned comic actor Christian Mast as a wannabe Puerto Rican bad guy. He is Maggie’s ex-boyfriend, who comes up with a scheme to break into the safe at a club he knows in Tribeca , where new girlfriend Boochie (Jacqueline Garcia) is an exotic dancer.
Maggie is just beginning to reform and it’s too tempting for her and for the reformed Paul. “Recovery is about progress, not perfection” he declares.
Act II lights go up on this bumbling band of thieves tied in a row of chairs, with bags over their heads. Business owner Big Tuna (Len Matheo), his son Little Tuna (Brian Brooks) and their henchman/chef, Sal (Russ Dale) are understandably offended over the bumbled burglary. When thugs are offended, they don’t play nicely with others. However, this is a comedy, so things work out.
“Den of Thieves” sends the audience out smiling and combines swimmingly with a glass of wine and a nice dinner nearby.
If you go:
“Den of Thieves” by Stephen Adly Guirgis plays through Nov. 29 at Vintage Theatre, 2119 E. 17th Ave., Denver. iPuerto Rican wannabe Flaco. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2:20 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $22 at the door; $17 in advance, 303-839-1361, www.vintagetheatre.com.
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