Zachary Chiero plays 40 characters in ‘Fully Committed’ at Theatre SilCo

It’s never fun when your coworkers don’t show up to do their jobs. But in the case of Theatre SilCo’s Fully Committed, it’s hilarious when Sam, played by Zachary Chiero, is the only one to take the heat from an egomaniacal chef and a host of privileged guests desiring to snag a reservation at one of Manhattan’s most exclusive restaurants.

The term “Fully Committed” uses a bit of word play to describe both the restaurant and Sam’s situation. As an uppity restaurant, he can’t just say something ordinary like, “We’re booked,” or “We don’t have any availability” — instead, the restaurant is “fully committed.” Meanwhile, it reflects Sam’s situation: He’s a struggling actor who is more committed to answering the phone at his “temporary” gig as a reservationist than he is to spending Christmas with his family — or even borrowing some of the privileged and confident attitudes his chef and guests have when it comes to his acting career. As the narrative arcs, the question becomes: What will he remain fully committed to: the restaurant, his family, himself and/or his acting career?

Zachary Chiero juggles the phones in ‘Fully Committed.’ | Photo: Graco Hernandez, Theatre SilCo

A zippier production

In 2003, when Theatre SilCo was Dillon’s Lake Dillon Theatre Company, it produced Fully Committed, and, while it was still very entertaining, it didn’t have as much movement as this did. In this updated version — including various “modern” references like OpenTable — Sam literally runs between two desks and one other station, the red “hot” direct line to the chef on the wall, as well as stairs, where he talks to his other actor “friend” and dad on his cell phone. All of the movement adds the frenzied mental and emotional energy he must manage and, overall, provides more interest visually. Likewise, the set is more stimulating, with wine boxes, two phones, a plaid sofa, a file cabinet, shelving and more. (And just wait until you see what’s in the filing cabinet.)

As the phones ring, the comedy continues to build. It begins with guests demanding, manipulating and even paying Sam under the table for a coveted table. Chiero excels at alternating between his role as Sam the reservationist, the ridiculously demanding chef, the host upstairs and the multitude of wanna-be diners calling in, unable to accept that the restaurant is fully committed three months in advance. In total, he plays 40 characters, using only vocal and movement changes, as opposed to any costume or prop changes (with the exception of an elder using a chair as a walker).

He transforms into Gwyneth Paltrow’s assistant, who apparently always does calisthenics while ensuring Gwyn gets the perfect lighting, waiter (not waitress) and dietary plan (which basically includes nothing). He softly swings into his easy-going, loving dad then transforms into not just an uppity VIP, but a VVVIP, complete with over-the-top accent. His back arches into an arch-enemy squeezing a rubber toy as he embodies the chef. In short, he’s a master of dialect and subtle to large body postures that indicate change in characters.

Photo: Graco Hernandez, Theatre SilCo

Building to hilarity

His fast-paced changes are easy to follow, with impeccable timing. But mostly, the high-energy, madcap scenes build upon each other, becoming more and more funny — and more and more silly when applied to real-life foodies, and, in general, the stress we can all get wrapped up in at work (at one point, cords from both phones literally wrap Sam up).

And when he accidentally allows a banned customer in for a reservation because the man bolstered his much-needed confidence, it’s the ultimate faux pas. As if that isn’t humiliating enough, he has to play janitor to clean a backed-up toilet.

While restaurant workers will especially appreciate the crazed humor, just about anyone can relate to the madness of things our society places the ultimate importance, stress and pressure upon.

And, on a more serious note, after all the laughter, Fully Committed allows audiences to walk away and consider what they’re fully committed to — in other words, what they’re giving the majority of their energy to — and whether or not that’s in line with their true values.