It’s that time of the year, folks! The time the artists from Mind The Art Entertainment puts on a production and we get to sit down and enjoy the dark and entertaining nature of Christian De Gré’s storytelling. From a tale about bullying and its effects, to a chronicle of a man’s love life through the ages, Mind The Art has always managed to put on a new spin to regular conversations managing to make the old discussions feel fresh while catching you with their infectious music. De Gré’s new production of “Whiskey Pants: The Mayor of Williamsburg” is no different.
Tackling alcoholism and the way it affects those around it, De Gré refuses to tell the story through the lense of a conventional drama. Instead, he puts them in a post apocalyptic world, in which Charles, better known as Whiskey Pants, has built a safe society where alcohol is the main philosophy. To drink, to get drunk, to forget how terrible the world is. Makes sense, when everything is lost, most people turn to addiction. In here, addiction is the law.
The problem is, this addiction took everything away from Charles. While he still has a daughter, he has lost a son and his wife. They left him when his wife couldn’t take it anymore. Years later, the son returns and finds a sister who is desperate to bring life and dreams to this boozy town that refuses to do anything but drink. It’s through them that we dig deep into the issues alcohol brings to a family, how it can blind people and ultimately break the spirit of the most powerful person. There’s a moment in which Abigail, Whiskey Pants’ daughter, sings about dreaming. In that number we realize how dark the real problem has become, how much this is a tale about a family broken up by the destructive force of liquor, and how when you accept alcoholism as your norm, the whole world around you crumbles and you are left with those that are in the same destructive path.
To have such a unique and unusual style is something rare these days. To be able to break the mold, and decide to put your own flavor to it is almost frowned upon. Mind The Art Entertainment does this on a constant basis. From the director to the writer to the cast, everyone commits fully to the vision. Be it an immigration story told in the style of Pulp magazines like in “Beware the Chupacabra!” or the bully revenge fantasia “Fatty Fatty No Friends,” every production leaves the audience humming and excited. Now in their tenth anniversary year, Mind The Arts seems like a bigger force to reckon with.
A remarkable script combined with a fantastic ensemble and strong direction, “Whiskey Pants: The Mayor of Williamsburg” is another triumph for the Mind The Art Entertainment team. One that shows that ten years after its conception, they are here to stay. Do not miss it!
Out of 4 stars:
