[ssba]
The Porcini Test
Reviewed by Vanessa Cate
Promenade Playhouse
Through August 22
RECOMMENDED
When you’re Kurt Vonnegut’s cousin, I’m sure it must be both a blessing and a curse. Sure, you may share some of his massive talent, but the enormity of his renown might make you think twice before trying your hand at the same trade.
Laureen Vonnegut, however, is not intimidated. She has penned many novels, short stories and screenplays over the years. Her newest venture, The Porcini Test, comes to life at Santa Monica’s Promenade Playhouse. She also directs.
Kat (Nancy Young) is confined to her home. Apparently the previous night was a little rough, and included a sour argument with her husband Will (Paul Keany) regarding a young piano tuner named Roberto (Garret Camilleri), leaving Will in a foot brace and her in an ankle monitor.
Things aren’t all bad though, as she’s joined by her dysfunctional but loving friends Juliet (Tania Gonzalez), Alma (Danette Garrelts), and Jonathan (Gregor Niebel). What plays out is a thoughtful examination of love and the enduring hope and futility of relationships, as we learn about each person’s views and the spectrum of relationships they encompass. The themes are thought-provoking and relatable. However, you can tell right away that Vonnegut (henceforce referring to Laureen) is a seasoned writer. But you can also tell that her comfort may lie on the page rather than the stage.
While the play works beautifully in some regards, it also feels like a very long episode of Frasier: witty, smart, and pointedly upper-class. I wonder, despite how pretty the meanderings are, what’s the point? The lack of any resolution makes me think the answer to that is open-ended. And while the subtlety of the piece is at times exquisite, it made me very much want to read her work, though not necessarily to watch it.
As a director, Vonnegut nicely pulls authentic emotions from her actors, but in a cinematic rather than a theatrical way, and lacking the comedic timing and high stakes the script calls for (including the least tense scene at gunpoint I’ve ever witnessed).
Overall, the cast give fair performances, standouts being Tania Gonzalez as the jaded writer Juliet, and Garret Camilleri as the perfect boy toy Roberto. I’ll also commend the feminist nature of the piece in the writing and the fact that the show features three strong women characters over 40. A final highlight – Argent Lloyd’s lighting, sound, and set design are perfectly crafted.
Despite its ambling nature, I found the piece enjoyable. The play leaves you with having watched realistic and complex middle-aged relationship dynamics taken to farcical levels and delivered with muted realism, resulting in an awkward, subtle, and elegant evening.
Promenade Playhouse, 1404 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica. 90401; Fri. & Sat. 8 p.m. & Sun. 7 p.m.; through Aug. 22, https://buytickets.at/theporcinitest/27010
