Mary Elisabeth Somers, Kathie Barnes, Liv Denevi (Photo by Garry Michael Kluger)
Reviewed by Iris Mann
Theatre West
Through October 8
RECOMMENDED
The heartbreaking, autobiographical story of four siblings trying to help their drug-addicted mother is beautifully rendered by playwright Garry Michael Kluger.
At the beginning, Kluger introduces the audience to the heart of the problem with expository material that unfolds naturally as the play progresses. Aided by director Arden Teresa Lewis, he also creates a sense of urgency, commanding the audience’s attention from the very start of the drama,.
The action takes place in Baltimore. As the play begins, 17-year-old Lori Silberman (Liv Denevi), who takes care of their mother, has called older sister Patti (Mary Elisabeth Somers) to come from New York. Their mother, Francine (Kathie Barnes), high on drugs as usual, has fallen and injured herself badly while trying to change a light bulb at two in the morning. Soon, their brothers, Matt (Hogan Mason) and Kirby (Cecil Jennings), arrive.
After discussing what steps to take, the four decide to call the family physician, Dr. Jerome Collar (David Mingrino). When he examines Francine, he tells them she must be admitted to a mental hospital for its drug treatment program. (In 1972, when the play takes place, there were limited options available to treat drug addicts.) At first Francine resists violently, but Matt manages to calm her and convince her it’s for the best. Although she seems better when she returns three weeks later, there is no happy ending,
Throughout the proceedings, Patti’s on-again, off-again suitor Keith (Andrew Cereghino) lends a supportive presence.
As the brothers and sisters argue back and forth and continually trade barbs, it becomes obvious that, underneath, there is a great deal of mutual affection and caring. Through their interplay, we get insight into each sibling’s life and distinct personality.
Kluger skillfully and sharply injects a good deal of humor into the proceedings, which somewhat leavens the tension.
Lewis directs with seeming love for each character. She uses the expansively and impressively designed set by Ernest McDaniel to advantage, choreographing the staging so that it flows effortlessly as the characters interact. She also establishes an immediacy that heightens the impact of the events.
There is a wonderful ensemble sensibility among the four actors playing the siblings. Jennings, in particular, has a magnetic presence onstage. Denevi projects a wisecracking demeanor, together with a self-sacrificing, almost put-upon air that engenders sympathy. At first, Somers’ character seems like a very self-possessed, take-charge career woman, but as events progress, we see her pain and vulnerability. We also see Mason’s deep pain as he approaches the end of his rope after innumerable attempts to come to his mother’s aid.
Barnes displays a very effective contrast between Francine’s drug induced stupors and outbursts, and her calmer, apologetic attitude upon returning from the hospital.
Cereghino is charming and attractive as the persistent man in Patti’s life, and the relationship between Patti and Keith, judging from the first night attendees, seems to stimulate a good deal of spectator involvement as audience members rooted for the two to become a couple.
Mingrino exhibits a properly professional air as the doctor who segues into a firm and concerned family friend.
The lighting design by Malcolm Wilson and sound design by the playwright add a sense of place to the production
As written, the Silberman family is Jewish, but the situation could obviously occur in any family. The playwright’s notes in the program state that addiction is as old as time, and that he was trying to show how an addiction almost destroyed one particular family. As he indicates, though he himself has never been an addict, he writes from personal experience.
Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd., West, L.A. Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 2 pm, thru Oct. 8. www.theatrewest.org Running time: 2 hrs. and 15 min. with one intermission
