Under the Skin

Reviewed by G. Bruce Smith
International City Theatre
Through May 14

Under the Skin, currently at International City Theatre, is ostensibly about the human heart, flesh and blood, what parents and their children owe to each other, and whether blood is thicker than water. That, at least, is what characters in the play say. The problem is that Under the Skin doesn’t deliver either a compelling enough narrative or characters to make such issues resonate.

Playwright Michael Hollinger and the cast, under the direction of caryn desai, deliver some funny moments in what is billed as a comedy on an unlikely subject — the life-and-death need of Lou (Tony Abatemarco) for a kidney. His adult daughter Raina (Allison Blaize) could be a match for an organ donation, but she and her father have been estranged and Raina still holds grudges against him. He cheated on her mom. He didn’t come to the hospital when her mom — by then divorced from Lou — was dying of lung cancer. He apparently can’t remember the name of Raina’s daughter. He had a secret bank account. He put a beloved dog to sleep and told Raina the pet ran away. And on and on.

So, Raina’s struggle is whether to donate one of her kidneys if she turns out to be a match. Into this mix comes Jarrell (Julian Smith, who also plays Hector, a nurse in the hospital where Lou is being treated), a potential kidney donor that Raina meets in a coffee house. Without giving too much away, it can be said that Jarrell, who initially appears a random character, will play a key role as the comedy unfolds.

Then there’s Marlene (Tanya Alexander, who also plays Dr. Badu, the physician treating Lou,  as well as a very funny barista). Marlene is Lou’s ex-lover who serves as a comfort to both Lou and Raina Unfortunately, she’s not a fleshed out character.

Both acts end with big surprises, which is satisfying, and as Lou, Abatemarco is charming. But — probably because the play is a comedy — the subject matter is treated lightly. making it difficult to have much compassion for either Lou or his daughter and or any of the other characters.

And then there are portions of the narrative — including a puzzling monologue by Lou about women — that make no sense in the context of the story. Although there’s a scene with Lou and Marlene in which Lou is finally vulnerable, it’s too little too late. Blaize as Raina also has a heartfelt interchange with Marlene, but again, too little too late.

The scenic design, by Tim Mueller, is workable. It’s geometric and sterile — somewhat bare and bathed in a bluish/greenish/grayish light (Donna Ruzika, lighting designer) with a hospital bed upstage. The scenic and lighting designs don’t add much to the narrative but they are well made.

Under the Skin, unfortunately, does not get under the skin theatrically overall. But it has some good moments of comedy, some of humanity, and some that are entertaining.

International City Theatre – Beverly O’Neill Theater, 330 E. Seaside Way, Long Beach. Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m., Sun., p.m.  thru May 14. InternationalCityTheatre.org. Running time 2 hours with a 15-minute intermission.