John Fisher [aka Tom Cruise] Spoofs Action Heroes Onstage

by Barry David Horwitz

The Rhino has its own Mission Impossible action hero—it’s John Fisher of course.  John Fisher, The Rhino’s multi-award-winning Artistic Director does it again. Fisher’s talents shine in the writing, directing, and acting of “Billy,” the story of two CIA assassins in a spy/murder thriller.

Fisher has revived the flashy action hero movies onstage, but with a witty, satirical spin: Die Hard & Laugh Harder! It’s a bit noir—in slate grey and black sets, a bit of mockery of popular movie magic, and a bit of psychological warfare. Think James Bond and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, beautifully executed onstage—with tongue in cheek.

How does this spot-on team pack thrills, chills, and comedy into a mere 90 minutes? Better come see it at the charming, new Theatre Rhino on 18^th Street and Castro—it’s full of breathtaking derring-do.

Fisher has never been in better shape—literally—because we can see how trim and fit he is in his naked scene with sidekick Day, played by impressive and exciting Raye Goh. Goh plays a sharp, aggressive, and superb lesbian CIA assassin. Watch them jump from a moving train and become a believer.

As The Colonel and Day, Fisher and Goh are magnificent as U.S. super-spies whose specialty is killing evildoers. Especially one Russian spy named Ivan, embodied by the funny-as-hell Ronnie Anderson. They must kill him—on orders from The Firm, of course.

At the center of Fisher’s spy fantasy lies a hard truth that we have seen in spy-thrillers: We live in a murder factory—at home and abroad—in which deranged people with guns are given the power to end lives, be they in Russia, Iraq, or Kansas. The U.S. License to Kill, issued to legal assassins trained by the CIA, remains an open secret.

Fisher makes hilarious fun of this murder-dodge. He and Goh, his talented accomplice, dive from planes, run along the tops of trains, swim in shark-infested waters. They are energetic, sweating, admirable heroes, lean and mean.

All the while they are also mocking the whole spy-thriller genre—how ridiculous it is to be an assassin, totally naked in a Russian sauna. But hey—a guys gotta do ….

And Day has a sweet lesbian girlfriend in D.C., Barbara (winning Puja Tolton), and Raphael Buenaventura plays convincing and funny roles from off-stage while mixing sound—in a solid, clever style.

The action heroes—Colonel Billy and Lieutenant Day rule the roost—they are trim, clad all in black, and ready to leap off tall buildings—which they pretty much do, brilliantly.

It makes you think—even these fabulous gay agents are out of their depth. It’s a gay rom-com w/ lots of lovers, but a real message to deliver amidst the laughter: Are these our heroes? Are we that cynical? What ever happened to honesty and decency?

Enjoy the hottest slice of life theater anywhere in town—it’s gay, it’s exciting, it’s an action adventure with a wink to the wise. Jump off a moving train to get there!

“Billy” –written & directed by John Fisher, produced by Crystal Liu, sound design by Raphael Buenaventura, lighting design by Colin Johnson, costume design by John Fisher, at Theatre Rhinoceros, 4229-18th Street, San Francisco. Info: TheRhino.org – to February 25, 2024.

Cast: John Fisher, Raye Goh, Ronnie Anderson, Puja Tolton, and Raphael Buenaventura.