“Other Desert Cities” at 2nd Story Theatre

By Richard Pacheco

            “Other Desert Cities” currently at 2^nd Story Theatre is a riveting story, eminently well acted and directed, full of growing power and presence. The  Jon Robin Baitz play was a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize in drama. The story is simple enough, Brooke, the daughter returns home after a very successful novel with her second project, a memoir, basically a tell all book that is sure to infuriated her parents. It is the mixture of insufferable parents and their child in search of “the truth.” It is an inevitable collision of increasingly dire consequences. This Christmas Eve gathering in Palm Springs is doomed from the first.

            Rachel Morris is Brooke, who struggles with the success of her first novel to come up with something to match its success. She ahs suffered from a variety of mental issues, ending up debilitated many times in her struggle back to her life and her writing. She is headstrong and determined and will not be deterred in her course. Morris delivers a solid performance, full of energy and determination.

            Joanne Fayan is her alcoholic aunt Silda, who serves as her undercover source in her memoir, her Deep Throat so to speak. She struggles to get off the booze a battle she has been fighting unsuccessfully for many years. She has resentment for her sister who has helped, but lords it over her mercilessly.  It is s fiery performance full of electric energy and zest.

            Lording over the family is the ultra cool and collected mother, Polly, reminiscent of Nancy Reagan, a protégé of hers, a woman with a calculating nature that is relentless and fearless. Nothing unravels her and you don’t want her for an enemy, ever.  Sharon Carpentier is cool and poised in the role, the epitome of aloof control in any circumstance.

            Then there is Brooke’s younger brother, the cool and hip Trip, a television producer for a court reality show which is quite popular. He is a font of sarcasm and humor and the only family member to live home with his parents. Ara Bohigian is on the mark as the man who loves his sister and his parents despite their flaws, all of their flaws and struggles to maintain both in these close quarter conflicts.

            Finally there is the husband and father Lyman a retired actor and ambassador under Regan who battles the conglomerated emotional mess of his family as best he can trying to balance his loyalties between the daughter he loves and his wife whom he also loves. Vince Petronio delivers a solid performance that is right on target as the easy going politician who keeps the secrets buried until he has to expose them in spite of himself.

            Director Ed Shea keeps the pace moving and directs in the round which allows for minimal set, mostly furniture. He keeps the intensity mounting and the laughs coming with a firm sure hand.

            "Othe Desert Cities" (13 March – 12 April)

2ND STORY THEATRE

@ 28 Market Street, WARREN RI

1(401)247-4200

           

“Ladies at the Alamo” at Theatre One

By Richard Pacheco

            Theatre One closes its season with Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Zindel’s fierce comedy “Ladies at the Alamo” which takes a searing look at life behind the scenes at a Texas theatre in Texas City in the throes of a power struggle. The five women cast seethe with comic venom as they go down and dirty with each other in an attempt to run the theatre through all manner of finagling and double dealing from which no one is immune. It is propelled by a talented and fierce cast full of fire and with relentless energy.

            The setting is the lavish reception room of the new multi-million dollar Alamo Theatre, which grew from its modest beginnings to one of the gems of Texas culture. It opens as the leadership of Dede Cooper, the founder and artistic director is under fire, challenged by the chairman of the board, a woman of great wealth and a unsatisfied lust for power and control with a passionate desire to replace Dede. Joanne wants to bring in a hand picked replacement and squeeze Dede out. She will not go without a fight.

            Kathy Bourne is Dede Cooper, a woman who knows how to fight her way up from tough beginnings. She is determined, dedicated with tunnel visions on her goals as the theater director, come what may. This Texas flower has loads of thorns and does not hesitate to use whatever she has at hand to defend herself against all comers. Bourne is a delight with her Southern twang and non nonsense demeanor. She can smile with the best of them while poising for the frontal attack to rip her enemies to shreds without mercy.

            Linda Merritt is the wealthy sophisticate, Joanne Remington, a woman with more money than she knows what to do with and believes since she gave so much to the new center she has a right to control it all no matter who gets in her way. She is snobby, wealthy, oozes privilege and condescension towards all, particularly Dede. Merritt is right on the mark as Joanne, a perfect mixture of poise and nastiness that delights while it surprises.

            Amanda Hayter is Bella Gardner, the feisty, outspoken, often outrageous best friend of Dede and the town slut. Her mouth and her body know no bounds and are confined by nothing except her whim and whimsy or by her capricious will. Hayter is sass and spunk as Bella, the hard drinking, boisterous good time gal with no reservations and constraints.

Jess Wilson is Suits, Joanne’s right hand, and somewhat shady assistant, who seems like she would stop at nothing to help her boss achieve her goals, at once fierce and menacing. Wilson is overbearing and ominous as the character requires and she does it with skill, flair and determination as well as menace. Yet she is also capable of touching monologue she gives in Act II.

Susan Salvesen is the aging movie star Shirley Fuller, who returns to the theater where she got her start, this time to take over after her movie career seems to tank and her options are few. She has left her Texas twang behind and struts about with the poise of a once confident star, now brought low by life. Salvesen is the epitome of the overbearing movie star, tons of bluster and trembling in insecurities, too many to mention.

This keen cast is right on the mark, full of fun and oozing nastiness when they battle, ladies in name only. Here, the battleground is equal and no matter where you came from, money and sophistication or the down and dirty Texas streets, it all evens out when the claws come out for attack and defend with delicious malice.

Director Peg Holzemer, who directed this play in the 1980’s at Theatre One, has brought it back again with equal success and flair. The pacing is taut, the lines delivered with scornful and lively flair for a dose of pure venomous fun.

“Ladies at the Alamo” is feisty, down and dirty fun, loaded with verbal venom and raw attitudes across the boards. The terrific cast keeps it all racing along with energy and impudence that is impressive and hilarious. You don’t want to tangle with these so called ladies at all, not if you hope to get out intact.

It continues at Alley Theatre 133 Center Street Middleboro. March 12- 22 at 7:30pm Sunday March 22 at 2pm.  Tickets at the Door “Cash Only” Students & Seniors $15 Gen $18 Food Donations for the COA Senior Food Pantry accepted at all Performances. Info 1-774-213-5193.

“The Last Five Years” at Ocean State

By Richard Pacheco

            “The Last Five Years” at Ocean State Theatre, the directorial debut of Joel Kipper is a good concept gone wry. It is Jason Robert Brown’s unconventional look at the break up of a marriage, inspired by the break up of his marriage. It is told by the couple, each telling the tale in opposite directions, her from the end to the start and he from start to finish.

            One of the major problems with the show is it gets confusing about who is where. Brown is a three time Tony Award winner but this show does not show off his strengths at all. The music is without variety and a bit monotonous for the 90 minutes, with the emphasis on jazz and through composed, meaning there is no dialogue (aright precious little) dialogue through out to hold it together and give us the relationship between the characters.

The two characters tell their tales with little interaction, the only spot is a song about their wedding, and it leaves you with two separate stories which can often be difficult to untangle and characters about who it is difficult to care. When it played in New York, it only ran from March to May Off Broadway in 2002.

One of the songs, “The Schmuel Song” about a Jewish tailor is totally unnecessary and adds nothing to the story. Whatever flow it might have is disrupted by the intermission. It could be missing with no loss at all.

So much of their tale is nebulous and vague, You learn that he gets somewhat famous and she gets jealous and he ends up cheating on her. They may or may not have had a child together as it is difficult to tell. Nothing is substantial or lingering in the memory. The premise of the show is established in the first scene, but we do not get toe learn much about them in detail, it is all vague, somewhat nebulous as their marriage disintegrates.

Neither actor is an overly impressive singer. Alyssa Gorgone as Cathy at time has trouble with pitch. David Demato as Jaime often bellows and bullies his way through songs.

Alyssa Gorgone plays Cathy, the wife. She is an aspiring actress whose career is best by many difficulties while her husband’s seems to take off from day one to ever greater heights. She is at times uncertain and lacks self confidence, but at first certain she ill love him forever. After all, who goes into a marriage with the intent of divorce? She constantly battles the demands of an acting career, with its endless disappointments and frustrations with his ever building success as a writer, reaching higher and higher levels in society. She starts with resentment aimed at Jaime and it seethes and grows constantly, destroying whatever they once had. She has energy, but often strains for pitch.

David Demato is Jaime, her Jewish husband. He is infatuated by his wife from the first moment. He is also infatuated with his ever growing career which starts to soar from the first moment. It creates conflicts in the marriage and puts him in temptation’s way as his writing reputation grows and his wife’s resentment and jealousy grows at an equal rate. He ends up being massively disenchanted and ready to love on by packing what he owns into a box and leaving, tired of the life they now share from the glowing romance brimming with hope he believed they once had. With many songs he bellows, yet he manges to maintain some degree of charm as the ever successful Jaime.

Director Joel Kipper tires to keep the pacing on the mark, but the musical presents some insurmountable difficulties for him or any director. One of the most difficult is the characters we don’t care about very much anymore than the tale of strangers on a plane in passing. The production is disappointing on so many levels.

Kimberly Powers set design has an innate charm and flair which is a definite plus. The look is excellent and endearing.

"The Last Five Years" (25 February - 15 March)

OCEAN STATE THEATRE COMPANY

@ 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, WARWICK RI

1(401)921-6800