Category: ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Matt & Ben play at ArtsWest by Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers directed by Zenaida Rose Smith. Nabilah Ahmed and Jacquelyn Miedema portray Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in a play reminiscent of Wayne’s World or SNL.

Synopsis from the Theatre: From the mind of multi-award winning writer and actress Mindy Kaling, Matt & Ben depicts its Hollywood golden boys – before J-Lo, before Gwyneth, before Project Greenlight, before Oscar… before anyone actually gave a damn. When the screenplay for Good Will Hunting drops mysteriously from the heavens, the boys realize they’re being tested by a Higher Power. Originally performed by Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers in the title roles, Matt & Ben is a hilarious satire on the real and imagined difficulties of pursuing a dream.

Attended Performance Date: 9/7/23 (Opening Night)

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Few

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Just a living room

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You should be familiar with the Hollywood pop culture surrounding Ben Affleck and Matt Damon like Good Will Hunting.

Defined Plot/Storyline: No, it was mostly dialogue

Equity Actors: 0

Total Number of Actors: 2

Perceived Pace of the Show: Slow

Length (Including Any Intermission): 1.5 hours

Intermission Included: No

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show: Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: No

Recommendation: See it if

• You’re a fan of Matt Damon or Ben Affleck
• You’re okay with 2-person plays
• You’re okay with plays that are mostly dialogue in a single room
• You like slapstick or silly humor

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

• Impersonations: Jacquelyn Miedema impersonated Ben Affleck’s douchey meathead frat jock bro vibe well. Her Gwenyth Paltrow expressions were pretty good too.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

• Moral of the Story: What message was this play trying to convey? Was it purely just for entertainment value? Was it a commentary on cis white male privilege similar to ArtsWest’s previous Zak production?
• Switched Roles: I’m curious how different this play would be received if the actors switched roles.

Theatre Company: ArtsWest

Venue: ArtsWest

Venue Physical Address: 4711 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

Price: Cheap to Medium

Ticket Affordability Options: You can self-identify as needing the inclusion rate when purchasing a ticket online.

Dates: September 7 to October 1, 2023

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: There are paid lots and free street parking. I usually park on 44th or 45th Ave behind the theatre.

Like/Comment/Share my Social Media Posts About this Performance:
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Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

• https://www.artswest.org/events/matt-ben/

Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video by Jennifer Crooks.

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and video below

@showsiveseen "Matt & Ben" #play at #ArtsWest by #MindyKaling and Brenda Withers directed by Zenaida Rose Smith. Nabilah Ahmed & Jacquelyn Miedema portray #MattDamon and #BenAffleck in a show reminiscent of Wayne's World or SNL. Photos: Jennifer Crooks. Review: showsiveseen.com/6637 #theatre #showsiveseen ♬ Sunshine State of Mind – Kurt Stevens

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Zach play by Christian St. Croix at ArtsWest directed by Sara Porkalob starring Amber Walker and Michael Nevárez. Reminiscent of Saved by the Bell and Funny or Die’s Zach Morris is Trash series through the eyes of minority sidekicks. Complete with a 90s sitcom laugh track!

Synopsis from the Theatre: A satirical comedy that lovingly skewers the popular tropes of the 90s teen sitcom, Zach introduces us to the lives and loves of Gina and P.J., a Black girl and a Latino boy at an affluent, majority-white Southern California high school. P.J., a lovesick surfer boy, and Gina, a budding fashionista, are overjoyed when they’re invited into the inner circle of Zach, the white, charismatic, prank-happy new kid at school. But when Zach plans a new prank that goes too far, P.J. and Gina must race to stop him before it’s too late – and along the way, learn to see their peers, and themselves, with fresh eyes.

Reviewed Performance: 5/5/23 Opening Weekend

Type: Play

World Premiere: Yes

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings: Several

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You’ll probably appreciate this piece more if you watched 90s teen sitcoms as a kid

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Recommendation: See it especially if 1) you watched 90s teen sitcoms like Saved by the Bell 2) or you like discussing/exploring/dissecting/exposing straight white male privilege.

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show: Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: Probably not but it was pretty good

Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value:
4.5 stars (Out of 5 Stars)

Equity Actors: 0

Total Number of Actors: 2

Length (Including Any Intermission): 75 minutes

Intermission: No

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

• Sitcom Theme: It was novel to see a play portrayed as a sitcom. I’ve never seen any play with this theme. It was like Saved by the Bell, Boy Meets World, Blossom, Clueless, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, or any one of the Disney formula sitcoms on-stage. There was even a laugh track and an opening scene similar to sitcom opening credits. The opening scene would have been perfect if it began with a projection of the TV show name “Zach” on the wall followed by character names while each character posed for the camera. Think of the Full House opening credits.
• Cast Doubling/Size: Usually, I’m hesitant seeing a show that only contains two actors. But since I saw Sara Porkalob (who was amazing in her one-person self-written show Dragon Lady) was the director, I knew I should give this play a chance. It’s surprising how many 90s sitcom character tropes Amber Walker and Michael Nevárez played. I loved how their racial background contrasted with their portrayal of Zach (inspired by Saved by the Bell’s Zach Morris) poignantly revealed how problematic he was as a privileged white straight male who didn’t experience consequences. It’s so interesting how 90s sitcoms subconsciously indoctrinated this bias in American kids.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

• Ending (No Spoiler): I’m proud to have predicted the twist resolution at the end of the play. It was definitely a cliche oopsie that we see often in high school-themed shows and movies.
• Mark-Paul Gosselaar: I recently learned a fun fact on TikTok that Mark-Paul Gosselaar (who played Zach Morris in Saved by the Bell) is half-Asian and his blond hair was dyed in the TV show. It’s funny that this play exposes Zach Morris’s white privilege but the original actor wasn’t even fully Caucasian!

Theatre Company: ArtsWest

Venue: ArtsWest

Venue Physical Address: 4711 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

Price: Cheap

Ticket Affordability Options: You can self-identify as needing the inclusion rate when purchasing a ticket online.

Dates: May 3 – 28, 2023

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: There are paid lots and free street parking. I usually park on 44th or 45th Ave behind the theatre.

Like/Comment/Share my Social Media Posts About this Performance:
Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

• https://www.artswest.org/events/zach/

Other Video +/- Pictures: See my video below and pictures below video

@showsiveseen "Zach" #play by Christian St. Croix at #ArtsWest directed by @Sara P. starring Amber Walker & Michael Nevárez. Reminiscent of "Saved By the Bell" & @Funny Or Die "Zach Morris is Trash" series through the eyes of minority sidekicks. Complete with a 90s #sitcom laugh track! Review: showsiveseen.com/5227 #theatre ♬ Pronoia – Carly Pearl