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Regional Reviews: San Francisco Show People Also see Richard's reviews of Benn Bacot at Society Cabaret and Judy Collins at the Venetian Room of the Fairmont Hotel and The Convert
The premise is straightforward enough, at least at the beginning: Tom (Casey Robbins), a software engineer on the brink of a huge business deal, hires Marnie and Jerry (Monica Cappuccini and Bill Davidovich), two down-and-out actors, to play his parents for a weekend. This is to impress his fiancée, Natalie (Sara Renée Morris), who is a concert violinist with uber-accomplished parents. Marnie and Jerry first arrive, preparing for their unscripted roles, quibbling over acting details. We learn of their former glory on stage, which has definitely faded, leaving them broke and desperate enough to take this unorthodox and possibly unethical gig as pretend parents for someone they've barely met. Marnie also berates Jerry for not having negotiated a higher fee for the weekend, and Jerry in turn confesses a fatherly affection for the young man they must now call "son." Tom shows up and seems very nice, upstanding, and confident, if a bit elusive and hard to read. Natalie finishes her violin practice and meets Marnie as "Estelle" and Jerry as "Theodore," and on the face of it she's a lovely young woman, worthy of Tom's adoration. But as the weekend develops, disasters pile up and deceptions are revealed, deftly destroying any preconceptions. That's all I can say without spoiling the fun. You'll have to see it yourself to discover just how wacky it all gets, and what the final outcome is—or isn't. Weitz keeps us guessing, and second-guessing, right to the end, with hilarious effect. There's a little bit of schmaltz thrown in for good measure, but mostly it's a laugh-out-loud kind of show. The four actors match their roles well, and all get to exercise their comic skills, as well as their "true" acting abilities. Like chameleons, each character goes through different iterations, playing roles within roles, and the cast is up to the challenge, including acting badly when called for. There are some great moments of deadpans and double-takes, and keeping the characters believable makes it all even funnier. It does take a while for the show to get going and warm up, but by the end of the first act we're well hooked. Director Austin Edgington keeps the staging lively, although he gives us actors' backs too often. Some potential humor is missed in odd moments; but then, the characters are so odd it's hard to tell whether the missed beats are due to script or interpretation. Scenic design by Kirsten Royston makes efficient use of the small stage to give us two discrete areas, but the spiral staircase is a bit harrowing. Lighting design by Leo Hidalgo and costumes by Jeff Hamby add to an overall appealing spectacle. For a bit of fun and an ingenious twist on the theatre-about-theatre genre, give Show People a look. Show People by Paul Weitz, presented by Dragon Productions, 2120 Broadway Street, Redwood City; Through March 22, 2015. Tickets $30 general admission, available at dragonproductions.net or 650-493-2006.
- Jeanie K. Smith |
