Through the Eye of a Needle 

Reviewed by Neal Weaver 
The Road on Lankershim 
Extended through May 26 

RECOMMENDED

It’s Christmas Eve in 2011. The Keen family is haunted by the memories, and the ghost, of daughter Dana (Kara Hume), who was killed while working as a Navy corpsman in Afghanistan. Each member of the family reacts differently to the loss. Mom Barbara (Meeghan Holaway) insists on setting a place for Dana at every meal, despite the fact that this embarrasses her husband Larry (David Gianopoulos).  Larry is hitting the bottle, and has other problems that he refuses to talk about. Daughter Samantha (Kaitlin Huwe) has become a fanatical political activist involved with organizing a protest action. She’s also a vegan, and now insists that her name is just “S.”

Their minister, Pastor Bill (Chet Grissom), is planning a Christmas Eve tribute of Dana and has invited himself to dinner, along with his over-medicated and seemingly ditsy wife Shirley (Stephanie Erb). The pastor is an aggressively cheerful evangelical and annoyingly touchy-feely, dragooning others into group hugs whether they like it or not.  He’s also bossy and nosy, condescending to his wife, and probing when it comes to the marital troubles of others.

Their dinner is interrupted by the arrival of Nasser (Erica Mathlin), an Iraqi man who claims to be a friend of the late Dana, and who bears letters from her to the family. Barbara eagerly welcomes him, whereas Larry, suspicious of strangers and Muslims in particular, is hostile. But ultimately Nasser serves as a catalyst, bringing everybody’s secrets to the surface and opening the door to a number of controversial topics, from the excesses of Sharia law to the problems of political refugees and questions of sexual identity.    

Jami Brandli’s dramedy seems uncertain about what sort of play it wants to be. Initially it plays like a sitcom — albeit with serious issues — about a bunch of engaging eccentrics. Then the revelations begin, and as dark secrets are unveiled the characters grow in depth and dignity. There are genuinely touching and provocative moments. But then things veer back into sitcom mode, with all problems neatly resolved before the final curtain. This makes for an ending that is emotionally satisfying, if not totally convincing.

Director Ann Hearn has cast the play well, and the actors do excellent work on Pete Hickok’s attractive, slightly constructivist set. It was particularly nice to see a non-generic Christmas tree that looked as if it had been decorated by real people with personal tastes and preferences.

The Road Theatre on Lankershim, 5108 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. (818) 761-8838(818) 761-8838(818) 761-8838761-8838(818) 761-8838761-8838 or www.RoadTheatre.org. Running time: one hour and 50 minutes with one ten-minute intermission.