Brothers from Another Planet
ATTITUDE Spring 1998
copyright 1998 B. JENNINGS

You've barely enough time to get in your seats before the space ship is sighted above 74 E. 4 St (La Mama) on January 15. Once seated and strapped in, lights are lowered and a tiny UFO flies overhead and lands at a near distance. The inhabitants disembark, groggy and coping with future shock. Later, they are interred in a synthetic holding pen and disinfected of 'angel dust'. And now, let the games begin!

Imagine the continuous sensory shock of visitors from another world if, they crash land at any USA border or port. Yet, this sensory shock is the actual daily experience of immigrants here and is the madcap creative challenge and reality that Slant, Richard Ebihara, Wayland Quintero, and Perry Yung generate and deconstruct in songs, movement, gags, skits, high tech equipment, and low tech old fashion theatrical magic.

We are given an accelerated experience of the constant ambiguity of American responses to strangers, foreigners and all 'others' that are not "blue blooded". The artists of Slant have roamed and surfed route 66, Marlboro country, backwaters, and the urban jungle for a friendly note or face from home. Instead they've found Connie Chung and natives so rigid in their ' English only' chants that all one can do is be still and let your mug shot be taken from 2001 angles by an illegal paparazzi .

This is as good as it gets to see them do more than Squeal Like A Pig from Samoa. The sight gags of these alien comics are side bursting good. My dates for the evening were two birthday celebrating munchkins, ages 5 and eight that also enjoyed the visuals & the music. Frankly I would want to see Slant's program many times more for the density of the materials is on continuous positive overload. Slant catches everyone in the headlights of raw exposure. They need a television show of their own for they are funny and creative in the continuous legacy of the best comedians and wizards of slapstick.

I believe this is their third full evening program. Right now they are touring college towns with the nerve to import designated spectacular talent. One should stand in line near Federal Plaza to see them the next time they are in New York. Kudos for their CD Release of their songs and skits.

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