Cynthia Payo, Bert Emmett and Jasmine Strong (Photo by Doug Engalla)
Reviewed by G. Bruce Smith
Lonny Chapman Theatre – Upstairs at Group Repertory Theatre
Through May 12
Lee Redmond’s world premiere play, Can’t Live Without ‘Em, sets up a funny scenario about a cheating husband who ends up in a coma, and his wife, ex-wife and lover all meet in the hospital room where he can hear their interactions. The situation allows each character (except one) to come to terms with their flawed relationships, resulting in a sometimes touching story. Unfortunately, the payoff in Act II is not as satisfying as it could be.
Appearing at the Lonny Chapman Theatre’s Group Repertory Theatre’s upstairs space, the play was developed in the Group Rep Playwrights Unit.
Thomas Axelrod, a successful middle-aged author, lies in a hospital bed in a coma, brought on by a massive stroke. He is played by a dummy in bed while a real-life actor (Bert Emmett), moves around the stage, offering wry observations and cringing at moments of embarrassment as the three women in his life talk about him. He can hear their conversation, but they cannot hear his thoughts.
His current wife Sharon (Daisy Staedler), who is also his literary agent, is uptight and furious when his heretofore unknown mistress, a young and pretty Chrissy White (Jazz Strong), shows up at the hospital room. His ex-wife of 23 years, Maureen (Cynthia Payo), is a ditzy, annoying but sweet woman who still harbors hopes that Tommy will come back to her. When she offers to care for her ex in her home, Tommy says, “Oh please, just pull the plug.”
Act I expertly lays out the characters and the conflicts with plenty of funny lines. Act II, however, is a bit of a disappointment; the pace of the action slows down, even as Thomas, Maureen and Sharon begin a journey of reconciliation and forgiveness. This is due to both the uninteresting dialogue and Mareli Mitchell-Shield’s direction. Two characters, a lecherous Dr. Payne (played by Danny Salay in the performance I saw) and an exuberant and chatty nurse Tammy (Jessica Kent) feel like tacked-on characters who could likely be eliminated, allowing more time for the development of the more pivotal characters and their relationships.
Which brings us to one of the flaws in the play: We really don’t get a sense of the characters beyond surface information. And we don’t get a well-developed idea of why this philanderer captured the hearts of these three women, as likable as he seems to be.
The most developed character is Maureen, and Payo plays her to the hilt, bringing out her irritating (think nonstop screechy chattiness) yet lovable qualities. She also gets some of the funniest lines, yelling in the ear of Thomas because she’s been told he can probably hear everything.
Sharon, played convincingly by Staedler, is mostly one-note — angry and cold -— through most of the play, but finally reveals some vulnerability that results in a touching ending.
Chrissy, alas, is the least developed character, with no reason provided for why she would fall for a much older man and make a life-changing decision based, in part, on her love for him. Strong does a lovely job with her character as far as the writing can take her.
Emmett is clearly a strong actor who captures Thomas’s amiability, but again is limited by the material he has to work with.
The set design (uncredited) is simple and workable — a sterile hospital room in Act I and in Act II a generic long-term care facility room, complete with Walmart-purchased tropical themed art work.
Can’t Live Without ‘Em shows great promise but a little more development would serve the text well.
Lonny Chapman Theatre – Upstairs at Group Repertory Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., N. Hollywood; Thursdays and Sundays, 7 pm., Saturdays 4 pm. thegrouprep.com . Running time: Two hours, including intermission.
