Round House Theatre: Rules For Living

 The play was advertised as "a hilarious new comedy about family values;" a North American world premiere--formerly a hit on London's west end; and set around the goings on during an auspicious Christmas Holiday Lunch that the Matriarch, Deborah, of the clan is orchestrated (as she always does) with a fine toothed comb.  Enter younger son, Matthew with his new girlfriend, Carrie.  Matthew gave up a dream of being an actor to become a successful lawyer.  Carrie is a nymphomaniac who only runs hot.  Next come Adam, elder son, and his wife, Nicole, and their daughter, Emma.  Emma immediately retreats to a third floor bedroom to rest as she has an anxiety disorder.  Adam is a wannabe writer, and failed professional baseball player.  Nicole is a wino who spends her time trying to cure her husbands undiagnosed and unacknowledged (by him) ADHA, and the aforementioned Emma's anxiety.  Finally, Deborah arrives, who begins barking orders and passing judgments.  Who's missing?  Francis, the Patriarch, who had a little medical issue.  Turns out when he finally arrives it's a major stroke that's left him paralyzed on half his body, unable to speak and sloshing reality around in his head as if his sons are still starring in "The Pirates of Penzance" and pitching for a West Coast NBA team.  

From this simple set up, you can just imagine how funny the show is...  Don't try too hard.  While it certainly had its funny moments--like in the second act when they played charades--the underlying issues of sibling rivalries, marriage infidelities, alcohol and narcotic abuse, psychological abuse, lying and betrayals just kept getting the way!

Now, have said that, I'm going to say this: I really enjoyed the acting.  I would not call the play funny, I would say it was clever in spots, and for a man who couldn't speak, Francis (John Lescault) had some of the funniest moments.  I would also say that the menagerie of characters was such, that even with stereotypical traits, they gave plenty of room for some over-the-top acting.  They must have realized that they were onboard the Crazy Train to Nowhere Town and so what have you got to lose?  On this score, the daughters-in-law Nicole (Present Incumbent) and Carrie (To be or Not To Be) went all out and I completely appreciated their gifts to the audience.  Jonathan Feuer as the older son was also quite good; unfortunately, every time he needed to dip into a serious moment, he ended up channeling in a most eerie way the gay comedian Joe Dombrowski.  It was uncanny, but also grew stale.  

The set was clearly another character in the ensemble.  The detailing was a prop masters Olympic challenge and everything seemed to come off with ease.

Overall, I'm somewhere in the middle ground with this one.  What are you supposed to do with "You Can't Take It With You" and "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Wolff's" love child?  

Adam (Jonathan Feuer) watches while Carrie (Dani Stoller) enthusiastically embarrasses Deborah (Naomi Jacobson).  I have seen Dani Stoller in 3 other plays over the past 5 years and hand to god, I would not have been able to recognize her from previous performances.  She was so completely the character of Carrie.

Deborah (drinking "water" laced with muscle relaxant narcotics), Adam, Matthew (Will Conard), Nicole (Dina Thomas) and Carrie in the kitchen that Francis' affair with a Korean spa girl bought Deborah.  His infidelities were paid for by home improvement projects.  

Deborah with Francis (John Lescault) pretending everything is okay.

Sons held to account by a father who can only spout jibberish and the phrase "Fuck Off!"

Nicole and Adam lay the groundwork for an eventual detente--the only positive thing to come out of the play.  

Here's another indictment I have regarding the writing of the play.  The conflict between Nicole and Adam centers around his refusal to take seriously that she thinks he might have ADHD.  This is a critical component driving most of the rest of the angst throughout the show.  And I say, SERIOUSLY?!  As conditions go, this one hasn't been stigmatized since Bill Clinton failed to inhale!  Pull this lynch pin and everything else is a house of brittle old cards.

Hands down the funniest moments of the play: Charades!