Word: huml
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...stage, Ross's direction is helped greatly by sound orchestrator Sonya Raminsky, who masterfully handles the effects and lends her domain an air of theatricality equalling that of the stage itself. The beeps and blips belched by social science computer Pazook are wonderfully hilarious, and Professor Huml once recieves a phone call from what appears to an adult emigrant from Charles Schultz's Peanuts series...
...schizophrenic action of Increased Difficulty of Concentration centers around the befuddled Professor Huml (Tom Hopkins), Eddy to his lovers, of whom he has many. He is a lascivious chap, and most of the supporting cast is women with whom he is, or wants to become, involved. A central theme of the work is his diminished genius as a result of his numerous involvements. But his genius seems magnified by comparison when a bizarre crew of social scientists arrives at his home, and alternately bakes and refridgerates the computer equipment the crew calls Pazook...
...Hopkin's Huml is not a man of great introspection. As Dr. Balcar (Lyra O. Barrera) says of Pazook, "He doesn't know what's going on inside him." He is most chipper when he abuses his wife, Vlasta (Forbes), his mistress, Renata (Bina Martin), or his secretary, Blanka (Magda Hernandez). Witness the scene when, without a flinch or trace of anger, he asks Vlasta, "Will you stop speaking for all womankind and see about starting dinner...
What is truly frightening is that Havel intends Vlasta to speak for all of womankind, and for all of womankind to speak for Vlasta. Much of the humor of the work lies in Havel's recycling women's dialogue. The playwright has Huml's wife and mistress share catty, stereotypical lines. Forbes is a little flat as Vlasta, but Martin displays some nice comic timing as Renata...
Barrera and Hernandez may not share lines, but they do share the gift of stage presence. Hernandez, as Huml's molested secretary, has perfect delivery and a touch for deadpan. Barrera, with her expressive face and quiet control, is well cast as the repressed, high strung social scientist...