Hfobble, TriArts, Inc., at Stage Left Theatre. The stock characters of commedia dell’arte may seem quaint and exotic now, but they represented types as familiar to 16th-century Italians as yuppies, rappers, and soccer moms are to our society today. The TriArts ensemble have created their commedia-style script in affiliation with the city’s Department on Aging, so it’s no surprise that it focuses on geriatric issues. A misanthropic capitalist vows to destroy all nonprofit enterprises, starting with the Hfobble House Senior Center. Aided by a secret weapon (an agoraphobic techno geek), he proceeds to rob elderly citizens of the objects and activities that give their lives meaning–their true “social security”–rendering them listless and confused. Their servants uncover the evil plot, but the geezers themselves are the ones to save the world from this deadly attack.
