No Reservations about Fully Committed

Sam’s working conditions are deplorable. His stripped-down basement office is wedged under the vent pipes, with cases of surplus liquor taking up floor space. The big city’s holiday festivities outside are acknowledged with just one tacky wreath, the staff meals aren’t here yet -- nobody knows why -- Sam is starving, and the phone is already going nonstop.

Ah, but upstairs is another story. That’s where everybody wants to be seen feasting on such delicacies as jicama-smoked Scottish wood squab in this, the hottest, hippest new restaurant in New York. But to get a table, everyone needs a reservation from Sam or Bob, the overworked drones who work in the basement, where the phone and the intercom never stop, and the sign on the desk warns, “The customer can hear you smile.” Sam’s smile is hard to sustain in this destination eatery that is booked up, or “fully committed,” for more than a month ahead.

Here’s a call from Mrs. Vandeveer, a chain-smoking society dragon with a triple VIP rating at the restaurant, who wants to book her favorite table. And Bryce, Naomi Campbell’s flunkie, who says Naomi wants a table for 15 this weekend: no dairy, no female waitstaff. Others call in and are asked to hold, as Sam juggles everyone’s requests, but where is his co-worker, Bob? The last Sam heard,Bob was waiting for a tow truck. Why isn’t he here yet?

The maitre’d, Jean Claude, refuses to take a call from another VIP, Mrs. Fishburne, because she has “a face like a dog.” And a looming crisis is developing because a sheik has already reserved Mrs. Vandeveer’s favorite table and has taken an additional table for his bodyguards.

Then Bryce again; Naomi requests an all-vegan tasting menu for her party of 15. A Mafioso wants a song for his parents’ anniversary party. And from the kitchen, the famous chef rings in (his ring tone is the opening of Beethoven’s Fifth) and confirms that yes, the restaurant will be open both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; everybody will be working. That’s worse than disappointing because one of the callers is Sam’s dad back in South Bend. Dad was hoping Sam could make it home for Christmas.

More feathers to unruffle: a senior citizen whose discount wasn’t honored, an impatient photographer from “Gourmet” magazine, an unscheduled Mr. and Mrs. Zagat – and now a sanitation crisis in the ladies’ room!

Why doesn’t Sam just give it up? He needs the job. Sam’s acting career is also in the basement right now. And though his gloating actor friend Jerry has a second call-back this afternoon, Sam has heard nothing from his own agent except that he needs to “project a sense of personal entitlement.”

Then slowly, certainly, opportunity begins to evolve, and a deal struck with slacker Bob allows room for a fully satisfying conclusion.

Fully Committed is a ninety-minute pressure cooker by Becky Mode, a former actress, waitress and coat-check girl, who knew the business from the inside. This turbo- comedy is a large order for the actor who plays Sam, even more so when that actor also portrays all the other 40 characters. In Ross Valley Players’ new production, Sam’s role is shared alternately between two versatile young actors, Dan Saski and Justin Scheuer. Director Arco Thompson says he double-cast the play for two good reasons: first, he remembered how demanding this role was for one actor; and also, he couldn’t decide between the two. Thompson also gives high marks to Rusty Taylor, the young woman who manages the phones, buzzers and Beethoven that strain Sam’s professional smile.

On opening night, our Sam was Dan Saski. He was not available for interview before the performance, but we did get to meet co-Sam, Justin Scheuer. Memorizing the whole script was tough, he says, but the biggest challenge was “Sam’s continuous arc.” Scheuer didn’t have any difficulty playing Dad, he says; “He’s like my Dad,” or with the chef, whose character he based on “somebody I knew in L.A..” But did struggle awhile to find a voice for Stephanie, the restaurant’s British hostess.

Fully Committed closes out RVP’s season in fine style and leaves the audience wanting seconds.
Fully Committed will play at The Barn Theatre in the Marin Art & Garden Center through August 19. Performances are Thursdays through Sundays. For complete information and prices, see the website, or call 456-9555.