Moose on the Loose
Reviewed by Julyza Commodore
Theatre West
Thru May 21
RECOMMENDED
Playwright Dina Morrone has crafted a show that is not only witty but also timely and touching. The collaboration between Morrone and director Peter Flood clearly blends well, resulting in a production that is detailed, nuanced and culturally relevant.
The year is 1999 in Ontario, Canada, inside a small suburban bungalow on a snowy day, where a family affair unfolds. Pina (Laura James) and Rodolfo Pupi (Richard D. Reich) are the matriarch and patriarch who’ve immigrated from Italy and are living with their daughter, Maria Tappino (Constance Mellors) and her husband, Giuseppe (Stuart W. Howard)— as well as their grandchildren, Joseph, the overachiever who wants to be a nurse; and Bruno Tappino, the underachiever who is glued to the couch and obsesses over watching the weather channel. (The grand kids are played respectively by Nick McDow Musleh and Rick Simone-Friedland). However, the first entity we are introduced to is (this is hardly a spoiler, given the play’s title) a Moose on the loose. (James Lemire).
This is a family comedy, so we’re not done yet with the clan: Flying in from Rome with a huge secret in tow, Gina Tappino (Erica Piccininni); and bossy Carmela Tappino-Williamson (Deanna Gandy), accompanied by her somewhat spineless husband Darryl Williamson (Cecil Jennings) and their energetic young son, Timothy Williamson (Darby Winn). Also joining in when things go awry is Bruno’s kind, smart and indigenous girlfriend of 10 months, Honabigi (Meg Lin), whom no one has met until now.
Jeff G. Rack’s family home set (built by Tom Sanders) succeeds in creating a lived-in domicile. Despite having a moose as a central character, nothing here, from story to set, feels overly broad or contrived. Rather, the play provides an authentic peek into the life of a real family, hoisting its flag for what used to be called family values.
While thoroughly enjoyable, Moose on the Loose provides more than just laughs, but also comfort and a reminder of what is truly important.
Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd West, LA; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 2 pm; thru May 21st. https://theatrewest.org/
