Highbrows and lowbrows will find common ground in Babylon Tucson, the latest comedic production by the Serendipity Playhouse. This over-the-top play supplies both laughs and insight by combining melodrama with local political satire. Directed by Gaslight Theater veteran Nick Seivert, the play recalls the Gaslight's theatrical style. Improvisation, audience interaction, and a piano accompaniment reminiscent of old silent films are all integral to the plays appeal. It's hammed up, but it's too smart to be c heesy. References to local culture and politics are abundant and clever, but not out of reach. Babylon Tucson is a fresh and welcome addition to Tucson's dry culture scene.

The play's story is centered around a group of characters that frequent or work at Babylon Tucson, "Tucson's oldest cyber cafe." In addition to their ironic problems with romance and computers they worry about the whereabouts of Bob, the cafe owner, deftl y played by director and co-writer Nick Seivert. Bob, who keeps finding himself lost in the audience, is on a mission to unlock the secret of "a mysterious orb that controls everything that goes on here in Tucson." (Any mention of the orb is accompanied b y a flash of lightning and a roar of thunder.) Along his circular journey Bob runs into the same pay phone several times. He tries to find out about the orb by calling local celebrities, but invariably he gets their answering machines. Biting voice impers onations follow. Example: "Hi eh-vy-body I'm Jim Click. I can't come to the phone right now as I'm out with my wife Vicki and my daughters Nicki, Dicki, Picky, and Sticky. Were all driving around in our biiig neeew Ford Taurus..." etc.

Bob eventually hooks up with the rest of the gang from the cafe and the loose story line of the orb unfolds along side a romantic sub-plot or two. It's all very tongue and cheek. The plot serves mainly as a vehicle to take us through the weird hodge-podge of things that somehow define Tucson. Ironic jabs and pokes flow freely taking on urban growth, bogus southwestern art, ankle biting midget mosquitoes, Microsoft investors and more. If you follow local news and events carefully you'll watch the whole sho w with a self-satisfied smirk. If you don't, don't worry, the references often explain themselves and the play is packed tightly with both high and low humor.

The play's five writers include above mentioned Nick Seivert, Arizona Daily Star's political cartoonist Dave standing in for one of the regular actors the night I saw the show.

I must include a word of caution to the reader however: None of this positive review will make any sense to you during the "Curtain Raiser" that precedes the show. This straight medley of surf songs and cabaret dancing has nothing in common with the irony and wit of the actual play.

Babylon Tucson, the actual play, is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser filled with relevant comedy. It might not provide a completely coherent solution to the mystery "of everything that goes on here in Tucson," but does more for local culture than anything I've seen in the past few years. Go see it! Bring a date, or bring your mother and kid sister.

Babylon Tucson is playing through Oct 27 at the Serendipity Playhouse located at 7000 E. Tanque Verde Rd. Tickets are $11 for Adults with a $2 discount for Seniors, Active Military and Students with ID. Children under 12 get in for $6. A donation of a non -perishable food item for the Community Food Bank saves you another $1 on admission. Group discount rates are available. Call 751-4445 for more information.

The Sweatlodge, a group composed of Babylon Tucson's writers, will perform in a special monthly show on Thursday Oct 24 at 8 pm.

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