The Bare Bones Repertory Company has always been known for taking the theatrical road less traveled. With the premiere of “The Monkey King,” written and directed by Long Islander Don Intonato, Bare Bones takes this to a whole other level. This sexually chacharged comedy/thriller tantalizes the imagination with its twists and turns, both in terms of plot and characteriza-tion. It touches all the bases of original-ity, humor and suspense, with cutting edge performances by outstanding Long Island actors. If you want to experience edgy, avant garde theater, this is the ticket.

The play opens on the veranda of a luxurious villa. Verdant vegetation, trays of mouthwatering tropical fruit, the sounds of birds, romantic Cole Porter music and a solicitous houseboy evoke the island paradise that is Bali. The houseboy, Nyoman, clothed in a sarongsarong and played with great finesse and animation by Nino Ascencio, entices an unseen Mr. Marlow (and the audience) with the awaiting delights.

How appearances lie. There’ll be ‘romance’ all right, but not exactly what you’d expect.

It appears that the guest, Rupert Mar-lowe (played by Smithtown’s Sean King) has gotten himself into a heap of trouble, and might very well be living on borrowed time.

BOX OFFICE: Ben Intonato, Sean King, Nino Ascencio and Christine Copley ignite the stage with their performances in Don Intonato’s sexually charged comedy/thriller “The Monkey King” at the Bare Bones Theater starting February 16

The disgruntled accountant has absconded, not only with a big chunk of his boss’s money but with his nubile daughter, Diane (played by Huntington’s Christine Copley).

AndAnd to make matters worse, Rupert literally has a monkey on his back. Enter Dante aka the Monkey King (played by Huntington’s Ben Intonato). The Monkey King is a half man, half Balinese monkey, speaks his mind, and knows Rupert, his weaknesses and manymany failings all too well. There’s a gun and Dante urges Rupert to take his own life as he promised, before the hit man sent by his boss can beat him to it.

BY ELISE PEARLMAN

Dante rushes out as Diane emerges from a shower, and the love talk between the couple gives Rupert a reprieve from his anguished reverie. You might think that Dante is a figment of a desperate man’s tormented mind. But then Diane talks toto the semi-simian, with whom she seems to have more than a passing familiarity.

As secrets spill out, the fur (monkey and otherwise) will fly, and Diane and the Monkey King will joust for Rupert’s soul, promised to the hairy demon in return for a favor.

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The Monkey King reigns at Bare Bones TheaterNORTHPORT’S COMMUNITY WEEKLY NEWSPAPER 86TH YEAR, No. 3 FEBRUARY 2, 2012

That morning, he began writing “The Monkey King,” Mr. Intonato said, adding that he wrote the char-acter of Dante with his son in mind. It fits Ben to a tee, as do the roles of the other characters.

The evening of superlative entertain-ment begins with Balinese refresh-ments and a ‘meet-and-greet’ with Mr. Intonato. Bare Bones Founder Jeff Bennett, who served as consult-ing director, is thrilled to have Mr. Intonato’s production grace the Bare Bones stage.

“I love the madness, the blend of fantasy and reality.

The audience will be teased; they’ll be entertained, and left with question marks and ambiguity,” Mr. Bennett said.

The play was produced by Eileen Harrigan.

ForFor theatergoers, it’s a unique oppor-tunity to see this play before it goes Off-Broadway, and it would be prudent to reserve seats in advance as the show will sell out.

Performances take place at 8 pm from Feb. 16 to 18 and 4 pm on Feb. 19 at the Bare Bones Theater, 57 Main St., Northport Village. Tickets are $20; they can be purchased through Brown Paper Tickets online: www.brown papertickets.com/event/213059 or by callingcalling 1 (800) 838-3006. Theatergo-ers can also visit Barebones theater.com or call Chappy at (207) 251-5337.

NORTHPORT’S COMMUNITY WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

Bare Bones Theater has Monkey on its back

86TH YEAR, No. 3 FEBRUARY 2, 2012

After studying English Literature and creative writing at Stony Brook University, (and like Rupert) complet-ing requirements for his Ph.D., except for the orals, Mr. Intonato veered off into a totally different career. He founded Great Oceans, LLC, one of UnitedUnited States’ largest importers of fresh, wild caught tuna and swordfish. The company boasts more than 500 boats around the world and their catch has made Mr. Intonato a foremost supplier for sushi restaurants and supermarkets. How then did he find the timetime and inspiration to write “The Monkey King”?

Serendipity struck during a trip to Bali, Indonesia in 2010. Before he left, Mr. Intonato recalled that his son, Ben, had asked for help in writing a stand-up comedy routine. Instead of one-liners, Mr. Intonato delivered something else.

“The“The morning after I arrived, a large male, long-tail macaque decided to come over the wall of my villa and share the breakfast the houseboy had set on the veranda for me. For nearly an hour, the large macaque, sitting on top of the table, lingered over breakfast withwith me as if we were old friends. Then just as suddenly, he left, climbing back over the wall.” Mr. Intonato remem-bered.