One of the earliest guidelines writers are told to follow is to write what they know. Even should their prerogative be to write fiction, it’s advisable to write said fantasies with some foundation of truth. Where plays are concerned, there is probably no writer who lives by this notion quite as strongly as Eric Bogosian. Bogosian is a playwright, but he’s also actor. He’s an actor who casual movie goers might see here or there and refer to him as “that guy”. Rest assured, he is much more than that. This was made apparent with shows like Fun house.
In Fun house, he plays a number of different satirical characters that are meant to be influenced by people in New York during the 1980s.
As stated previously, he pops up on the screen every so often, but before his film appearances, Bogosian made his name on the stage, and he did so by virtue of his own pen. His most accredited live performances are all plays that he wrote. Fun house was one such performance, that later set the stage for other one man outings. A talented monologist, Bogosian has been afforded the opportunity to play a multitude of unique characters simply because he had the talent and the inclination to write them. These characters are fake, but they stem from reality. In Funhouse, he plays a number of different satirical characters that are meant to be influenced by people in New York during the 1980s. Each one is as dissimilar and contrasting as the next, reflecting people of all back rounds, social classes, and disparate states of mind. There’s nothing identical about any of them, but for the time period in which they’re set, they are incredibly relatable.
Most of Bogosian’s performances are fairly plain when it comes to set and tech, which is to say: they’re in short supply because they’re not even necessary. Alone he stands in casual dress with no costume changes, simply gliding in and out of each person he’s playing. He’s eccentric, ecstatic, and energetic. The amount of zest and vibrancy he displays physically would seem impossible if not for the fact that he’s right there doing it. For the entire hour duration he’s locked into each mini story he’s chosen to tell, much of which is humorous though often dark in context and sometimes highly inappropriate. It also cannot be forgotten that more importantly than his acting, it’s his writing that should be held in the highest regard. His ability to bring these characters to life is a reflection of his knack for merging his views of society with his extensive imagination.
Few have the skill or even the proclivity to both write and perform their own material in the format in which Bogosian has. In fact the majority of actors perform material that someone else wrote. Funhouse proves that Bogosian didn’t achieve recognition by being an actor who can write. Bogosian attained and retained his success because he’s a writer who can perform his own work with an understanding that other performers just don’t have. If there’s any question of this assessment, check out this free show on YouTube.
