The House of Blue LeavesThe Mark Taper Forum
(135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
By John Guare
Date of reviewed performance: September 27, 2008
Cast
Artie Shaughnessy - John Pankow
Ronnie Shaughnessy - James Immekus
Bunny Flingus - Jane Kaczmarek
Bananas Shaughnessy - Kate Burton
Corrinna Stroller - Mia Barron
The Head Nun - Rusty Schwimmer
The Second Nun - Mary Kay Wulf
The Little Nun - Angela Goethals
The M.P. - James P. Harnagal
The White Man - James Joseph O'Neil
Billy Einhorn - Diedrich Bader
From what I'm told, it's been about fifteen years since the last time this show saw a revival. In some ways, that is a shame because there is a lot to enjoy about this production - but in other ways it is easy to see what would scare people off. First of all, it's a play that has such genre confusion that it's difficult to even explain it. I like to think of it as a dark comedy with a high death toll. That's really the best I can come up with; go see it and tell me if you can describe it better. I wasn't familiar with the script prior to today, so I wasn't sure what I was in for even as I tried to find someone to drag along with me. As the play went along, I was still trying to figure it out. During intermission, I heard a man behind me ask his wife "Are you able to follow what's going on here?" Come on, what is there to be confused about? It's simple really; it's a cabaret-romantic farce-drama-comedy-assassination-slapstick-love triangle-murder play. How could you have trouble following that? The first act moves really slowly, but the second act is quick thanks largely to sudden introductions (and equally sudden goodbyes in some cases) of several new characters.
The cast is made up of several recognizable television actors including stars John Pankow (most notably of Mad About You), Kate Burton (most recently of Grey's Anatomy), Jane Kaczmarek (most famously of Malcolm in the Middle) and Diedrich Bader (most...well, he was on The Drew Carey Show and often guest stars on sit-coms). The remainder of the cast do fine jobs for the most part and all primarily exist for pure comedy with the exception of the Ronnie Shaughnessy character (played by James Immekus). Ronnie is holding on to some rage brought about by an embarrassing incident as a child and now wants to take it out on the pope. He is the only character in the Shaughnessy family that we really only see one side of. There is some evidence that his life is actually far different than he sees it (and that perhaps his mother's mental illness is a genetic trait), but we don't get to know him well enough to really know. We also don't get to see him actually interact with his family at all. They merely talk about each other to the audience outside of the other's presence. I did not particularly care for Mr. Immekus's characterization of Ronnie. He shouted and flailed around alot for effect and, while I'm sure it was meant to convey someone at their breaking point, I found it detrimental to the performance.
Ms. Kaczmarek was fantastic as Bunny. I've heard people call her performance in this production over the top - but if they think that then they have never known anybody from New Jersey. I say she was dead on. Also, Mia Barrow, who plays Corrinna, was absolutely fantastic as the deaf actress, I was truly sorrow to see her go. Mr. Pankow and Ms. Burton were both very good and textured in their roles. I, for one, thought I had them both figured out only to learn in the end that I couldn't have been more wrong.
As complicated and genre-hopping as this play is, the actors make it fun and worth your while. It's got two more weeks at the New (and only somewhat improved) Mark Taper Forum.
The House of Blue Leaves:
