SITE GUIDE
SEARCH
REVIEWS
REVIEW ARCHIVES
ADVERTISING AT CURTAINUP
FEATURES
NEWS
Etcetera and
Short Term Listings
LISTINGS
Broadway
Off-Broadway
NYC Restaurants
BOOKS and CDs
OTHER PLACES
Berkshires
London
California
New Jersey
Philadelphia
Elsewhere
QUOTES
TKTS
PLAYWRIGHTS' ALBUMS
LETTERS TO EDITOR
FILM
LINKS
MISCELLANEOUS
Free Updates
Masthead
A CurtainUp Los Angeles Review
Jawbone of an Ass
|
Somewhere along the way we have forgotten that we are all human, therefore fallible and absolutely ridiculous. Because twisting religion or politics for one's personal agenda or financial gain will not endear you to St. Peter and help you get through the pearly gates where 31 virgins and a choir of angels will be waiting for you. — Playwright Nan Schmid
—
|
Left to Right, Eliza Coyle, Michael McColl and Nan Schmid.
(Photo: Erin Clendenin) |
Through Paige Marie Hollister, a somewhat righteous Midwestern matron faced with the disappearance of her sex-addicted husband, Schmid (who also plays the role) has created a heroine of near endless comic possibilities. Paige Marie's best friend Cora Ann Wormley and Dr. Peter Admore, the visiting spiritual psychologist dispatched to deal with the town's crisis, aren't exactly shrinking violets themselves.
Jawbone plays out like a mystery — the kind of cheesy what really happened caper that might unfold on one of Paige Marie's beloved soaps. People are not who they initially present: Shady motives come to life, and everyone seems to be searching for something in the depths of Paige Marie's house. The house figures to be immaculate seeing how the start of the week is always "Mop Monday" as Paige Marie cheerily informs us. Nice job on the divided set by designer Steve Johnson (the playwright's husband). I hadn't realized you could still find wallpaper depicting pieces of fruit.
Mop Monday has barely broken when Paige Marie gets a visit from Cora Ann (Eliza Coyle, like Schmid a former Second City comedian). Cora Ann may profess friendship, but in carting Paige Marie off to come see Dr. Admore, the aptly named Wormley's motives are anything but benevolent. Admore (Michael McColl), who we first see in full revivalist mode, isn't just here to shill his books. He takes a strong interest in Paige Marie, her missing husband and her seeming lack of faith and determines that the upcoming Pillsbury Bake-Off competition might be just the sort of diversion to get her mind straight.
Of course, Ardmore's interest proves perhaps a bit too intense, and his penchant for practicing dance steps and donning women's clothing is a bit interesting. Anzide and his three actors play this out with a giddy mixture of straight and camp. We get faux horror and monster movie-inspired spoofs, plenty of cheeky sound effects (gotta have that goat!) and a very funny chorus of recorded voices during Admore's revival. All three performers aren't afraid to supply gusto to these frequently over-the-top shenanigans.
Lines were fluffed and overlapped with a bit too much regularity opening night, likely the product of premiere jitters. Schmid also made a post curtain announcement that the performance was dedicated to her father-in-law who had passed away the previous day. It's good to see that the playwright/star could shelve her grief for a couple of hours in the service of high comic energy. Here's hoping she brings Paige Marie back for further adventures once Jawbone has been put to bed.
|
Jawbone of an Ass By Nan Schmid Directed by Jim Anzide Stage Manager: Cate Cundiff Cast: Nan Schmid (Paige Marie Hollister), Eliza Coyle (Cora Ann Wormley, Michael McColl (Dr. Peter D. Admore) Set Design: Steve Johnson Costume Design: Christa Armendariz Lighting Design: Dan Weingarten Sound Design: Tim Labor Puppet Construction/Choreography: Richard Maher Running Time: 2 hours with one intermission Lillian Theatre, 6322 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. (800) 838-3006, www.Brownpapertickets.com. From May 1 to May 29 Thu-Sat. @ 8pm, Sun @ 2 pm. Reviewed by Evan Henerson, based on May 1 performance. |
|
>
Subscribe to our FREE email updates with a note from editor Elyse Sommer about additions to the website -- with main page hot links to the latest features posted at our numerous locations. To subscribe,
E-mail: esommer@curtainup.comesommer@curtainup.com
put SUBSCRIBE CURTAINUP EMAIL UPDATE in the subject line and your full name and email address in the body of the message -- if you can spare a minute, tell us how you came to CurtainUp and from what part of the country. |
|
REVIEW FEEDBACK Highlight one of the responses below and click "copy" or"CTRL+C"
Paste the highlighted text into the subject line (CTRL+ V): Feel free to add detailed comments in the body of the email. . .also the names and emails of any friends to whom you'd like us to forward a copy of this review. You can also contact us at Curtainup at Facebook or Curtainup at Twitter and at Curtainup's /Blog Annex |
South Pacific
In the Heights
Playbill Broadway Yearbook
