'Self-Defense' is the best offense for young company

Adam Henry Garcia stars in the Gurnet Theatre Project's production of "Essential Self-Defense." (Stephen j. buslovich)

A man who works as the human punching bag for a women's self-defense class, a butcher who claims to have the world's strongest right hand, and a guitar player and drummer who perform as an onstage band are all part of the crazy world of Adam Rapp's "Essential Self-Defense." The play, which opens tonight at the Boston Center for the Arts' Black Box Theatre, "is perfect for a fringe company like ours," says Brian C. Fahey, artistic director of the young Gurnet Theatre Project. "All of Rapp's plays are so exploratory and unconventional."

No kidding.

The first 10 minutes of a recent rehearsal are spent practicing a fight scene in which Sadie (Chelsea Cipolla) runs through her self-defense moves on Yul Carroll (Adam Henry Garcia), who looks like a cross between the Michelin Man and a bumble bee in his bright yellow padded suit. Sadie's accidental knockout of Yul's tooth provides the catalyst for a budding relationship between the innocently earnest young woman and Yul, an intelligent loser.

"They're both so socially awkward," Fahey says, "It's fun to see how they relate to each other. Of course, because it's Adam Rapp, there's also a plot twist about disappearing children and some totally wacky moments."

After the fight sequence, the eight young actors in Gurnet's production run through a scene in which several of them perform original songs in a karaoke bar, accompanied by the two-piece band rather than a karaoke machine. As Cipolla sings a plaintive folk song about squirrels and bunnies, Fahey leans over to explain.

"It's supposed to be spontaneous," he says. "Adam Rapp wrote all the lyrics, but we had to come up with the music. It's a mix of heavy metal, punk rock, and goofy folk music, and each style fits the individual character."

The songs are funny and disturbing and revealing - all things Fahey and his company love in the productions they choose. Although the three-year-old company is still finding its footing, Gurnet has already made a name for itself with edgy, smart productions of Kenneth Lonergan's "This is Our Youth" and "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead," a spoof about the teenage angst of the Peanuts comic strip characters by Bert V. Royal.

"After I graduated from Northeastern in 2005, I moved back home to Duxbury and got together with some friends who wanted to produce theater," Fahey says. The company's name, Gurnet, refers to the point of land that protects the town's bay. "We started out with a family-friendly outdoor production, and we're committed to continuing that." This summer, another one of Gurnet's founding members, Kristen Schnibbe, will direct "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)," Aug. 7-10 at the Myles Standish Monument in Duxbury. Fahey says the company is currently negotiating to bring the show to Boston, too.

"But we reserve our other two productions, in late fall and early spring, for riskier plays," he says. "I read plays all the time and am inspired by the newest titles. I also like plays I think no one else will do. I happened on 'Essential Self-Defense' at Borders and love Rapp's dark humor."

The honest, unpretentious performances Fahey elicits from actors who do not have an enormous amount of experience are key to Gurnet. "I have a support group of actors who come to mind when I read scripts," he says. "Three of the eight actors in 'Essential Self-Defense' are people I've worked with before, and then I'm always surprised at who shows up for auditions."

Rachael Hunt, who was such a standout in last summer's Company One production of "Mr. Marmalade," hadn't seen Gurnet's work, but had heard great things about the group. "They definitely have the right attitude," says Hunt, "and I get to be a little wild here, which is always fun."

Experience in Gurnet productions apparently also serves actors well: Jonathan Orsini went from Gurnet to SpeakEasy Stage Company and Hartford TheaterWorks productions of "The Little Dog Laughed," and Jonathan Popp went from Gurnet to SpeakEasy's current hit, "The History Boys."

"I don't have any special technique," says Fahey, "but I'm all about collaboration. Whether you're an actor or the assistant stage manager, you're just as much a part of this process as I am. I hope that feeling of being invested is what comes through."

Through June 28. Tickets: $25. 617-933-8600, bostontheatrescene.com.

Notes

"November," David Mamet's political comedy, and "The Mystery of Irma Vep," Charles Ludlam's comic salute to horror films and Victorian melodramas, complete the Lyric Stage Company's seven-show 2008-09 season. "November" (Oct. 17-Nov. 15), which closes on Broadway in July, will play the Lyric just in time for the presidential election, while "Irma Vep" will be performed Nov. 28-Dec. 21 by local favorites John Kuntz and Neil A. Casey. In addition, award-winning actress Jacqui Parker has been added to the list of performers in the season-opener "Follies" (Sept. 5-Oct. 11). 617-585-5678, lyricstage.com. . . . Bobbie Steinbach, who just completed her star turn in "The Importance of Being Earnest" at the Lyric, will replace Mary Louise Wilson and join Tony award-winner Christine Ebersole, Ron Raines, and the Boston Pops to sing selections from Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music," tonight and tomorrow at Symphony Hall and July 8 at Tanglewood. Tickets: $19-$87, bso.org