By Eva Trieger
SAN DIEGO — Older readers may recall Sybil, a 1973 book about the life of a woman with multiple personalities. Suffice it to say that the subject of that book has nothing on Dennis Peters, the one-man phenom who portrays Sam and the other 30 characters in Scripps Ranch Theatre’s Fully Committed.
Written by Becky Mode and directed by Ted Leib, this high energy, frenetic show is a rapid-fire volleying between outsized eccentric egos, a gushy personal assistant, a belligerent taciturn chef, absentee coworkers, and myriad others. Sam is tasked with answering the uber-busy restaurant reservations line for a swanky New York venue. This aspiring actor takes a barrage of acute abuse answering nonstop calls, making reservations for specific tables, notating minutely detailed and often obscure, dietary habits, and catering to irate, overly demanding prima donnas, amid other less savory duties as demanded by the narcissistic Chef and the self-important French maitre d’ . (This show taught me that Gwyneth Paltrow has quite the reputation for being a diva! Who knew?)
Amid the hilarity and physical comedy, Sam experiences the frustration of competing for acting roles in New York City. His heart is set on being cast at Lincoln Center, yet this dream seems elusive, and the audience shares his despair when he learns that a fellow actor has received callbacks while Sam has heard nothing. Adding to his sense of isolation and distance, Sam, as low man on the totem pole, will likely have to work through the holidays instead of joining his family, this first year since his mom’s passing.
Peters brings boundless energy to Scripps Ranch stage, and his mastery of multiple accents and vocal modulation is no mean feat. It is obvious the actor has experience in improv and singing as evidenced by his solo of “That’s Why the Lady is a Tramp.” There are sensitive moments interwoven throughout all the laughs, and the sense of urgency of being under fire for the entire 70-minute show is palpable.
Fully Committed runs through September 29, and tickets may be purchased at scrippsranchtheater.org or by phone at 858.395.0573.
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Eva Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts.