Reviewed by Lovell Estell III
Loft Ensemble
Through June 15
Salt has at various times and for various religious groups represented healing, purity and spiritual covenant. It was even was used for coin in the long distant past. In playwright Noah T. Parnes highly problematic dark comedy, old sodium chloride is enmeshed in a ritual of heavenly ire that starts in the home of a not-so-ordinary family.
Nicole Craig and Skylar Deshane are the parents of a bi-sexual daughter (Isabella Costa), whose views on sex and sexuality are fairly liberal, as are those of her parents who are slightly redolent of the “free love” folks that were highly visible during the 60’s. However, this family’s lifestyle has garnered the wrath of the heavenly powers, and one fine day their home is unexpectedly invaded by a gigantic pillar of salt (cleverly designed by Natasha Renae Potts), and along with it, straight from Sodom and Gomorrah, two chatty angels, (Rosie Ryden and Bita Arefniar) and Lot’s nameless, accursed wife (Crismar Chacin Ruiz). For those unfamiliar with this story from Genesis, Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt because she disobeyed God’s command not to look back at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Is her appearance a warning? What is the reason for this gathering? It’s never really is made clear in a way that meaningfully—or effectively— stitches it all together.
Parnes goes all out to make comedic hay of this biblical scenario, but he just doesn’t succeed. The script is terribly overwritten and rambles on like a runaway train, offering a small parcel of laughs along the way. But even these die off as the play grinds to its terminus. Cast performances are decent, with the exception of Ruiz, who is consistently energetic and convincing. Ignacio Navarro directs.
Loft Ensemble Mainstage, 11031 Camarillo St, North Hollywood. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sundays 7 p.m.. https://www.loftensemble.org/tickets-events Running time 90 minutes with no intermission.
