"Sara Toby Moore's "The Mechanix," a self-described "science fiction-magical realism-human cartoon" show, takes place on "a normal day at a seaside amusement pier." The show includes interdimensional travel, anthropomorphic animals, the nature of free will, and an extended riff on "The Wizard of OZ." Through it all, one would be forgiven for occasionally asking what one thing has to do with the other. It's a question that never gets answered."
"Upon arriving at Z Below, the black box theater beneath Z Space, audience members are encouraged to grab lollipops from a basket at the door. Inside, we find two ragged big top tents that meet at an angle, each with a projection screen showing grainy, seaside carnival footage. A near-endless loop of seagull and crowd sounds gives an unsettling, David Lynch-esque feel to things."
"Before the play starts, the two titular mechanics, Buff (playwright Sara Toby Moore) and Dutch (DeMarcello Funes) step out into the audience to awkwardly check if everyone is "strapped-in" for the ride we're about to take. They then lead the audience through a rollercoaster version of "the wave" to get in the spirit of things. The story begins with the news that the most popular ride on the pier is facing a unique problem: riders keep disappearing into thin air."
The show unfolds in a black box theater transformed into a shabby seaside amusement pier, complete with two ragged big-top tents, projection screens of grainy carnival footage, and a near-endless loop of seagull and crowd sounds that create a David Lynch–esque atmosphere. Audience members are invited to take lollipops and participate as the two mechanics, Buff and Dutch, lead a rollercoaster version of 'the wave.' The central plot follows the mechanics investigating a popular ride whose riders vanish into thin air, prompting an interrogation by corporate lackey Boris and interactions with co-worker Ms. Needleman. The production blends interdimensional travel, anthropomorphic characters, and a Wizard of Oz riff.
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