8-bit Warrior at the Alchemist Theatre

We all romanticize the past. We think of it as simpler, purer and less complicated, and this impulse is the thrust behind 8-bit Warrior, written and directed by Vince Figueroa and currently playing at the Alchemist Theatre. Set in 1987 in a suburb of Chicago, it is the story of one high-school Donkey Kong fanatic.

Will Davies is obsessed with Donkey Kong. In his own words, it is the one thing he’s good at it. It’s the one thing that he can do, that might make him famous. When the local pizza parlor gets an arcade machine of the game, he gets a job there just so he can play. He ignores the girl that really likes him, and who he really likes, in favor of his video game. Then, a new kid comes to town and beats his high score on the arcade machine and takes Becky away from him. Will’s world comes crashing down around his head, and he has to right it again- something he does after a plan hatched while consuming a case of Pabst procured by his best friend, Tony, with his father (and Tony, of course).

Figueroa’s play is funny- particularly to anyone that was a teenager during the late 80s or early 90s. While the characters and their interactions are universally appealing in their quirks and dysfunctions, the recreations of classic video games using cardboard cutouts during scene changes will have any late Gen X-er or early Gen Y-er giggling with delight.

Though the entire cast is obviously having a great time in 8-bit Warrior, particular mention must go to Greg Back and Beth Lewinski, playing Mr. and Mrs. Davies. They are each equally hilarious as Will’s slightly neurotic but extremely well-intentioned parents. Mrs. Davies harbors a (not-so-secret) love for Huey Lewis, while Mr. Davies is quietly concerned with remaining cool to his teenage son. Tyler Kroll also turns in side-splitting performances as both Will’s Army Reserve-enlisted, Communist-hunting older brother and the MC of the video game convention Will competes in. Anyone who ever attended a GenCon in its heyday will appreciate Kroll’s MC imitation.

Some of the set pieces are a bit cumbersome, and with no crew, scene changes take a disproportionately long time. This is rendered less of an annoyance by the video game recreations and the spot-on 80s pop music played during, but still, less elaborate sets and less changes in the scene would have been appreciated.

8-bit Warrior is an original production, premiering at the Alchemist, and represents the very best of local arts culture. It is light-hearted fun, with some riotously funny moments.  Love is found, the obnoxious friend makes good, and the noxious new guy gets his comeuppance. If only the world actually worked that way! But if it did, we wouldn’t look at the past through rose-colored glasses, because we wouldn’t be looking at it all. And if that were the case, we wouldn’t have 8-bit Warrior to enjoy.

8-bit Warrior runs through April 11 at the Alchemist Theatre, 2569 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. in Bay View.