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The American Dream

Reviewed by Jessica Salans

The Group Rep at Lonny Chapman Theatre

Through April 12

While Edward Albee is one of the most notable playwrights of American history, his track record of unsuccessful productions outnumber those that catapulted him to fame. A fascinating fact about Albee’s career is that even his greatest successes were met with controversy; critics and the public alike split on whether his work was genius.

Of his one act play, The American Dream, Albee states, “”[It is] an examination of the American Scene, an attack on the substitution of artificial for real values in our society, a condemnation of complacency, cruelty, emasculation, and vacuity; it is a stand against the fiction that everything in this slipping land of ours is peachy-keen.” It is also supposed to be a hilariously satirical.

A married couple is named Mommy (Linda Alznauer) and Daddy (Michael Robb). Mommy’s old mother is named Grandma (Renee Gorsey) and brutal secrets are revealed by the intrusions of honorary community member, Mrs. Barker (Christina Carson) and Young Man, nicknamed by Grandma as “The American Dream” (Andre Jack).

There is nothing, unfortunately, controversial about The Group Rep’s production of Albee’s play, directed by Alyson York. Albee’s absurdism is lost to poor technical choices, directionless staging and novice acting work. If the intention is to play the characters over-the-top, the execution doesn’t support it. Albee’s text gets lost in errant melody and because none of the performances are neither believable nor grounded, the dark twist of plot becomes largely irrelevant.

The Group Rep has been around for 41 years, though they must be doing something right to continue producing work. They have a robust season for 2015. Like Albee, perhaps they will find great success in another production.

The Group Rep at Lonny Chapman Theatre; 10900 Burbank Blvd., N Hollywood 91601.; Saturdays 2pm, Sundays 7pm; Through April 12. https://www.thegrouprep.com