Ask any writer, comedy is one of the hardest mediums to create. Much like horror, trying to elicit a precise reaction from an audience can be like pulling teeth, and that only doubles when you throw in a genre like political satire. You must walk a tight line and maintain a film grip on your message, otherwise you might sway into offensive or muddled territories that will just leave an audience confused, or worse, aggravated. It’s to Max Langert’s credit then that his latest work, A Million More to Go, now being staged by Jarrott Productions and Cinnamon Path Productions, works more often than it doesn’t, as its able to bring plenty of laughs while also tackling some hard hitting issues, like war, lobbying, and our current divisive political landscape. It may not necessarily hit all its chords in perfect harmony, but on the whole its a powerful shot across the bow, staying amusing and pointed while never straying into either camp or major disrespect.
A Million More to Go takes place in the most audacious of locales: a small, windowless room in the middle of nowhere, where nameless drones act as ballot counters for a unknown election. From early on we can tell that things aren’t quite right, as a Wall of Conspiracies sits upstage, full of drawings of illuminati symbols and mysterious words, and an ever-present soldier with a gun is standing by, motionless, wordless. Waltzing into this tense environment is a new hire, V, who despite being thoroughly versed in her job thanks to her thorough training, couldn’t be prepared for the chaos that was to greet her, especially as a sudden phone call from a person of power turns all their lives upside down. The path this takes our world-weary group of vote counters is wild, unpredictable, and ever-so-darkly funny.
The undeniable star of A Million More to Go is Natalie D. Garcia as the volatile, but always hilarious T. A name you always delight in seeing appear in a program, Garcia plays a chaos gremlin of a manager, who bursts into each scene like a wrecking ball, leaving naught by commotion in her wake, acting as a perfect gateway to the loose, tumultuous world of the play. The amount of unbridled energy Garcia brings to the role is laud-worthy, as just watching her left me literally exhausted, and her ability to maintain that level of vigor through the entire two hours is shocking. This isn’t to say Garcia is nothing but a one note pandemonium-machine, to the contrary. Garcia maintains a natural chemistry with her fellow actors, while also molding dimensions into the character, showing ever the many sides of this unique and effervescent character.
While the play remains an excellent commentary on America and its secret cabals and political division, its big business control and its hidden agendas, as it reaches its climax and final denouement, I couldn’t help but feel the message gets muddied a bit. It’s very possible I missed the message (this is indeed a work that might require several viewings to truly underscore its messaging), but to me it felt like the play’s climactic moment hit with a whimper, even if its finale still smacks one in the face. If the work had hinted to a throughline earlier on the in the piece, the train might have kept a few more wheels on the rail, but on the whole the ride felt a little offset by the time we finally got back to the station. This is certainly not enough to sour my experience, as for most of its run time this absurdist romp keeps the laughs and lingering thoughts coming, I just wish it had nailed the landing.
Despite its faults, A Million More to Go is a solid piece of absurdist political satire, with a stellar ensemble, often riotous dialogue, and intriguing world-building. It’s also a great opportunity to support original work by a local playwright, something that can be hard to come by in this city. Jarrott Productions continues to bring unique works to the Austin stage, and this is another feather in the cap for the company, and may just act as a calling card for its associate company Cinnamon Path as well.
A Million More to Go is Playing through June 30th at Trinity Street Theatre. For more information, and to purchase tickets, please visit jarrottproductions.com.
Photos courtesy of Steve Rogers Photography.
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