Sharon Lawrence, Jamie Pierce, Dann Florek, and Matthew Scott Montgomery (Photo by Jenny Graham)
Reviewed by Asa Fris
Ruskin Group Theatre
Thru December 20
Matthew Scott Moontgomery and Jamie Pierce (Photo by Jenny Graham)
In Nacho Ate Spiderman by Michelle Kholos Brooks, a cozy neighborhood becomes the scene of a deadly event. In this comedy, two neighboring couples handle the consequences of their irresponsible actions. Excellent character work means there are laughs to be had in this West Coast Premiere, directed by Casey Stangl, but an inconsistent tone and puzzling staging make for an ultimately arduous experience.
It’s a sunny day in January when we find Brad 1 (Jamie Pierce) and Brad 2 (Matthew Scott Montgomery) hunched over and panicking. Before them lies the body of Spiderman, the award-winning rabbit and beloved pet of their next-door neighbors, Devorah (Sharon Lawrence) and Xander (Dann Floreck). It seems the Brads own beloved animal, a scruffy dog named Nacho, got hold of Spiderman and went for his jugular.
Will Brad and Brad confess to their sweet baby’s crime, or will they write off Spiderman’s death as a wild coyote attack, even going as far to bury the corpse? Before they can figure out what to do, Devorah greets them with a surprise gift, and notices something fishy is going on. That evening, at the request of Devorah, both couples chat face to face by Xander and Devorah’s fireside, and tensions build as the Brad’s secret gets ever closer to being revealed.
The set up and structure for the story is simple. Something terrible happens, after which tensions rise as characters work to hide/figure out what’s going on. This leads to comedic scenarios, including the Brads attempt to bury Spiderman in their planter, and a long blame game over whose pet dug a hole underneath the couple’s connecting fence, and into Spiderman’s enclosure?
The problem is that these comedic scenarios have holes themselves. Why do the Brads decide to bury Spiderman out in the open? Why is the hole beneath the fence that they argue about a conduit between two open spaces — rendering their argument moot?
These would be nitpicking details if not for the grave turn-of-events toward the end of the play, which are alarming and grounded in our reality. The trivial conflict and gaps in logic that precede the climactic event diffuse its impact.
It’s also worth noting how similar Nacho Ate Spiderman is to Native Gardens by Karen Zacarías. Native Gardens is also a comedy about two couples, one older one younger, separated by a fence, whose personal differences and disagreements about property lines seem insurmountable until a real life or death scenario inspires them to make amends.
The strength of this production evolves from the performances of Lawrence and Floreck, who have great fun with their characters’ idiosyncrasies. As Devorah, Lawrence displays the instincts of a tiger and captures the essence of someone raised in Topanga Canyon: in touch with the energy of the universe, a champion of sun salutations and iced matcha, and a person both haughty and caring. Florek’s character is much the opposite; his Xander is a down-to-earth and affable clown, and the actor delivers a standout performance.
The production is very pleasing to the eye. Stephanie Kerley Schwartz’s rendering of the two houses is intricate and distinctive of each couple’s sensibilities. The backdrop glows like the LA evening sky, dotted with silhouettes of telephone poles and palm trees, infusing the visuals with an extra bit of charm. Hannah Owens-Bender’s costume design compliments Schwartz’s palette, and her flowy jumpsuits are ideal for Devorah, while Xander’s shirt that simply reads “oat milk” couldn’t be more perfect.
Ruskin Group Theatre, 2800 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica. Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 2 pm, dark Dec. 13; thru Dec. 20. www.ruskintheatregroup.com Running time approximately 90 minutes, no intermission.
