COOKIE AND THE MONSTER: A F*CKED-UP FACT-BASED FAIRYTALE
I have nowhere to go. Do any of us really?
― Cookie
You should never apologize for anything.
― Monster
This is not your childhood memory of Sesame Street when the Cookie Monster would stuff his small mouth with as many chocolate chip cookies as possible. This is the story of a beleaguered girl Cookie (played by the awesomeness that is Jaime Andrews) trying to keep her monster (the unrecognizable and so talented Scott Leggett) at a huge distance.Cookie’s nightmare begins at kindergarten. He is always there by her side, embarrassing her and making her say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Like an annoying kid brother or sister who’s only objective is to mortify their older sibling.
Cookie believes him when he strongly suggests that swallowing 30 vitamin pills will make her stronger. When she’s sad, he shows her the benefits in ridding her pain by slicing her wrist. This furry looking character is truly a sick, monster, but provides entertainment in a twisted way.
Now that the horrific childhood is over, in comes the dreadful teenage years in high school. Cookie immediately joins a clique that resembles a Marilyn Manson posse who hang out underneath the bleachers. Dreary-looking teens, with doomed expressions and frightful tone of voice that sound like nails on a chalkboard. Monster is close by destroying any attempt of Cookie trying to separate herself from him and venture on her own. Cookie is a lost soul clinging to the one thing she holds dear because frankly, there’s no one else. Her parents don’t appreciate her and her only friends are dismal creatures causing havoc. In, what else, a twisted way, Monster needs her to to keep on living. Leggett is hysterical-fun as the Monster. No rules, manners, or class. He’s happy being a giant hairball with no limits. This makes Cookie the perfect mate, because she simply wants to get along so she goes along with the program. No matter how fast Monster switches channels, Cookie keeps up until she feels no longer has to maintain the treachery.
Andrews is not only a phenomenal actress but her writing ability is highly impressive, coming out the gate. If this is any indication on what she can do, then she will be blessed with further success. As an actress, she puts a lot of herself in a role. As a writer, she can write herself to success and get awarded for it. She’s that good. Best of all, this girl knows how to make people laugh, which is not a skill but a well-deserved gift.
Cookie and the Monster: A F*cked-Up Fact-Based Fairytale ends on Thursday June 25th at 8:45 p.m., playing at Theatre of Note, located at 1517 N. Cahuenga Blvd., in Los Angeles. For ticket reservation, log on to www.hff15.org/2922.
