The Act (2004)

Rosy Marconi is a comedian with a secret.

Directors:

Susan Kraker, Pi Ware

Writers:

Susan Kraker, Pi Ware

Stars:

Debra Jo Rupp, J. Michael Flynn, James P. Connolly

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Debra Jo Rupp	...	Rosy
J. Michael Flynn	...	Stan
James P. Connolly	...	MC (as Jim Connelly)
Jay Hewlett	...	Adam Lipsky
Tiffany Cade	...	Married Couple
John Cato	...	Married Couple
Suzannah Fagan	...	Professional Woman (as Suzanne Fagan)
Debbie Blossom	...	Professional Woman
Tanayl Seabrook	...	Professional Woman
Gwen Wheatley	...	Professional Woman
Patrick Belton	...	Bartender
Diane Gaidry	...	Waitress
Caryn Shalita	...	Waitress
Gabriela Tollman	...	Waitress
Nadia Wit	...	Waitress

Storyline

At a comedy club, the Ha Ha Hut, the M.C. introduces the next act, comedian Rosy Marconi. She's approaching middle age, announces she's just gotten a divorce and says, "Please, no pity." She riffs on her ex, Stan, who made laziness a religion. The audience loves it. The film jumps back and forth between her performance and later that night as she stands alone in her unlit kitchen, gift baskets on the table. She smokes, she drinks whisky. The set ends, to great applause, and, at home, she finishes her nightly chores. What is the real source of her material?

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Taglines:

Laughter is the best medicine.

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Genres:

Short | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 November 2004 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Searchlab, Filmmakers Alliance

Technical Specs

Runtime:

8 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Excellent Short

Beautiful and poignant, this is a short that evokes the power of the great short stories of O Henry. If you get a chance to view it, be prepared for a stab into the heart of the truth of love and the need for all of us to laugh at the essence of our very existence. The lead, Rosy, is performed with incision followed by the evocation of loneliness, and closes with beauty and sweetness. As someone who has practiced the craft of stand up long ago, this reviewer can attest that Debra Jo Rupp's creation of the tough female comic is true but truer is the fact that so many people with quick wit holding a microphone often belies the sadness or anger or grief within. Not a short to be missed!