‘Icarus’: Oh, If Only This Verse Were Terse

Kirk Wood Bromley gets points for sheer eccentricity--he writes full-length dramas entirely in verse.

His “Icarus and Aria,” at Sacred Fools Theater, is a loose updating of “Romeo and Juliet.” The play concerns the doomed romance between Aria (Kim Jackson), the privileged daughter of a wealthy football team owner, and Icarus (Matthew Troyer), a Latino football star from the ‘hood.

Although star-crossed, this is a hugely ambitious effort on the part of director Alexander Yannis Stephano and his fervent, teeming cast. The pace never flags. The handsome production is a blitz of color and activity, with M.E. Dunn’s terrific costumes, Burris Jackes’ way-cool set and lights, and J Warner’s typically splendid sound.

The performers, who number almost a score, plunge into the rhythms of Bromley’s piece with missionary zeal. After all, Bromley’s “Want’s Unwished Work” was a huge hit for the Fools last year and moved on to a longer run at another venue.

Writing modern-day works in verse is not entirely new. Vikram Seth’s critically acclaimed 1986 verse novel “The Golden Gate” was a shining example.

But Bromley’s no Vikram Seth, at least not this time. Following the action is a difficult and thankless task. We gather that Icarus’ gangbanger brother Primalo (John Rosenfeld) is peeved at his successful young sibling and that Aria’s hip-hopping girlfriend Dina (Rachel Dara Wolfe) either has or has not been sexually assaulted. Plot points, relationships and interactions are obtusely rendered and largely incomprehensible.

A big question: Why all this angst in the first place? Even after Aria’s half-brother Jimmy Jr. (David Holcomb) is slain by Primalo’s gang, Aria’s millionaire dad (Edward Symington) hesitates only briefly before giving Aria and Icarus his blessing. Maybe if Juliet had known how effective a little pouting could be, she wouldn’t have had to go the tomb route.

At its best, this production is an opportunity for the Fools to show off their splendid logistical skills, their capable company of actors and their noteworthy designers. At its worst, “Icarus” is hectic and unmotivated, an ersatz exercise that challenges our attentions without fully engaging them.

* “Icarus and Aria,” Sacred Fools Theater, 660 N. Heliotrope Drive, Los Angeles. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m. Ends Aug. 5. $10. (310) 281-8337. Running time: 2 hours, 45 minutes.