This rather odd comedy is written by Sarah Ruhl and directed
by Matt Gibson. It is playing at their
space, 7515 N. Brandon Ave., (just off Lombard), through March 25th. (There is a free church parking lot across
the street that can be used.) For more
information, go to their site at www.twilighttheatercompany.org
The above caption is more than fitting for the premise of
this play. We are all truly different
people depending on circumstances. In
this case “Life imitates Art…,” or is it the other way around?! We are the sum total of a soul, genes,
rearing and contacts as we mature. But
when you add the layer of a performing artist to this mix, you’ve just opened a
whole other can of worms, as the characters they portray onstage add another
layer of reality to an already complicated life, as in this case.
As to who’s who and what’s what in the plot, if put in
writing, would just add more confusion.
So, I will try to give a short sketch of the basics. It seems that He (Rob Kimmelman) and She
(Kristen Paige) are former lovers from Youth and are now trying out to play
lovers in a play with a respected Director (Christopher Ruggles) and his trusty
sidekick, Kevin (Jason Fox). She has a
husband, Harrison (Tony Domingue), and a daughter, Angela (Jayne Ruppert),
now. He has a lover living with him,
Laurie (Amanda Clark), so those factors complicate things a bit as to any
rekindling of a romance between He and She.
But then, there is the play, albeit a campy soap opera, in which they
can go beyond, perhaps, that “stage kiss.”
Needless to say, it does get messy when stage roles mix with
real life and can be hard to distinguish between the two. (A side note—this really does often happen in
the theatre/film world, as well, where intense relationships onstage can be
intense off-stage, too.) Also, these
same seven actors portray other characters in the play(s) as well, probably
deliberate, and that adds even more layers to the plot. Really can’t tell you more without giving
away plot devices and, perhaps, confusing you even more as to the interweaving
in the stories.
This is not Ruhl at her best. The play needs editing, especially in the
first act, as the repetition gets tiresome after a while. And the blending of camp humor in the first
act and some serious moments in the second act are an uneasy mix at best. Also, the constant scenery changes got to be
annoying, as if she was writing for TV or a film. There is a rather nice ending, albeit a bit
far-fetched, but the overall story needs some tightening, although a good
idea. The funniest bit being a silent,
sight gag with Clark, who is a master of deadpan comedy. I won’t give it away but you’ll know it
when it happens.
Gibson is a terrific comedy director and he does his best
with this material and a very able cast.
All the actors are right for the roles they play, especially the two
leads. And I particularly liked the
musical interludes. Domingue, with his
commanding voice and Clark, with her big eyes and Keaton-like expressions, both
having been in plays here before, stand out in the supporting cast.
I marginally recommend this show because of a very talented
cast and director. If you do choose to
see it, please tell them Dennis sent you.
--DJS
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