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Theater
Review
Dirty
Laundry
HOLLYWOOD,
CA - About
eighty-five minutes into "Dirty Laundry," now playing
at Hudson Theatres, the play's two principle characters come to
grips with one of the most painful dilemmas a husband and wife
could ever have to face. All
of the plot's mistaken identity and confusion have been
mercifully laid to rest, and Stan and Donna for the first time
grapple honestly with their situation.
The confrontation is poignant, believable--even powerful.
But that's eighty-five minutes into a ninety minute play. Up to that point "Dirty Laundry" has spent its
energies trying to make frothy fun out of one character's
unfaithfulness, another's betrayal of religious vows, an
immigrant's misuse of the English language, and a woman's
leaping past the painfully obvious to conclude the improbable
over and over and over.
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I realize these
are all staples of comedy.
But it's amazing how tiresome they can be when the plot
they serve is in fact pretty disturbing.
The sitcom soapbubble bursts quickly when you know that
sooner or later the truth has to come out and a rather likable
character is going to be deeply wounded, if not destroyed.
But the fact that he's "known some of the
characters" in his private practice might not have been a
good enough reason for Albertella to try and turn their troubles
into a fun evening at the theatre.
The central dilemma is just not the stuff of light comedy.
Some of Albertella's writing is interesting, as in the
flashback seduction sequences.
Too many of the laugh lines, though, are weak, coming not
out of the situation so much as the "every third line must
be funny" rule of sketch comedy.
We get too much of characters being dumb and not enough
of characters being witty.
I would suggest Mr. Albertella aspire to the Neil Simon
of "Prisoner of Second Avenue," rather than the Neil
Simon of "Your Show of Shows." |
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The
acting ensemble brings energy and commitment to the proceedings,
its work well staged by director Steven Benson, clearly a solid
pro. Lee Anne Moore
as Donna calls the gifted Charlotte Rae to mind, and I agree
with her bio's claim that she's "born for television."
Paul Luongo has the look of a young Ricardo Montalban, and is
perfectly cast. Ruben
Dario is a little unfocused, but promising, with a funny Bronson
Pinchot sort of nowhere-in-particular accent.
Marc Ian Sklar is probably miscast physically, but works
hard in the role of Stan. His
best moment is that brief poignance near the end, which is sadly
done in by a flippant tag ending.
Chromolume Theatre Company has made an odd choice of material
for its maiden production. "Dirty Laundry" has its moments, and also its
problems. But
there's a lot of talent in place, a fine technical realization
of the piece, and promise galore.
Now if they could just spell the playwright's name
correctly on the program cover . - G.R. White
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