For those about to rock, we salute you. As the first production of the Loud Bridge program, ‘Airness’ features up-and-coming artists from across San Diego. For this group of actors, their talent includes loud and lovingly performed air guitar. Kian Kline-Chilton’s direction, the cast’s fun performances, and a skilled team of creative designers pulled out all the stops to deliver a night of light-hearted enjoyment. And really good music.
Nina (Shelby Garza) walks into a dive bar and discovers the world of competitive air guitar. The established players include Shreddy Eddy (Lester Isariuz), Golden Thunder (Isai Luna), and Facebender (William Huffaker). The three help Nina see the stakes at hand and encourage her to play with her heart. Challenging Nina to find her full potential is Cannibal Queen (Sofia Scafdi), a hellraiser who strives to play louder and better than the guys. And then there’s Air Guitar National Champion D Vicious (Jacob Lopez), who reigns over his kingdom with swagger and ego, eventually coming in to cause trouble. The air guitar competition organizer and announcer (Griffin Hanson) provides quick and effective laughs scattered throughout the story.
Simply put, the show is fun; it is all the more apparent in the characters. You can tell the actors are having a great time. The story and premise are silly without seeming trivial, and the emotional beats can hit you hard.
The standout performance comes from Huffaker as the wild, long-haired Facebender. His comedic delivery and accent, along with his hard-hitting monologue, elevate the show in both humor and emotion. Garza’s Nina has range, moving back and forth between tough and determined, and soft and sometimes afraid. Isariuz, as Shreddy Eddy, is likable and charming as Nina’s tutor and supporter.
Lopez’s D Vicious is cocky and overconfident, eliciting fun jests and boos from the audience when he played up the arrogance to 11. Luna gave the character of Golden Thunder a vulnerable side that made you just want to root for him. The one and only Cannibal Queen, played with razor-sharp edge by Scafdi, creates great tension throughout the story. Hanson portrays several roles throughout the show, eliciting hearty, genuine laughter every time he takes the stage.
It seems that Kline-Chilton helmed the production with camp and comedy in mind, and their vision paid off. The 90-minute production never felt too long or too short; everything was perfectly paced, and all actors worked well together.
Audrey Casteris’ scenic and prop design looks exactly as you’d expect in the best way: a seedy dive bar and stage, with a grungy green room for the competitors to hang out in. All areas of the set are well spaced and utilized. Sammy Webster’s lighting design is vibrant and effective at bringing the story to life. Bright colors and rhythmic flashes accentuate Marc Akiyama’s wonderfully loud and rock-worthy sound design, featuring great songs from multiple decades.
Loud Fridge has put on a fun and enjoyable production. “Airness” is there to remind us to be our authentic selves, see the best in others, and rock as hard as you can.
“Airness,” produced by Loud Fridge Theatre Group, plays at Moxie Theatre until April 19.
(Photo credit: Xing Photo Studio)
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