Come Back, Little Sheba
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Merkerson, Gavigan
Photo by Craig Schwartz
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By Joseph N. Feinstein
There were a lot of things wrong with the production now appearing at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, until July 15, even though its stars, Alan Rosenberg and S. Epatha Merkerson have a rich history and "herstory" in theater. The set, created by James Noone, is magnificent and takes your attention into different rooms, watching how this complex tale of failed hopes and sexual longing plays out in a fragile marriage. William Inge was one of the great mid-20th century American playwrights, winning a Pulitzer prize for Picnic in 1953. Each of the minor characters in the play glows with a fine portrayal during their few moments on stage. Somehow, the entire presentation, directed by Michael Pressman, never quite makes the glue to create a play of interest or credibility.
One approaches the theater with certain built-in expectations. Simply stated, for this reviewer, those hopes were smashed when Marie (Jenna Gavigan) the boarder who will entice Doc, a married man of twenty-five years, opens her mouth. She has a high-pitched, nasalized voice which sounds more like a whine than anything else. Her rather plain, school-girl looks, combined with an ever-present grin, showed absolutely nothing sexy about her. (Terry Moore played the role in the film to much more advantage).
To see Merkerson in this role as Lola, the chatterbox wife living in the past, was too harsh a change from the empathetic, leadership role she plays as a lieutenant on television's "Law and Order." The change in character was too unbelievable and unsatisfying. She was not the best actress for this role.
Alan Rosenberg, as Doc, Lola's husband, walked and spoke about as unemotionally as humanly possible, so that when his moment of anger, revenge, and vindication came while he was drunk, he, too, was completely unbelievable. ( Rosenberg was a late replacement for Bruce Davison).
But let's turn to Mr. Inge's play. So much of the play seems quite outdated. It was good to see the milkman dropping off bottles (remember them?), Lola dialing the rotary phone whose ring never quite was loud enough, or the tired postman being offered a chair and a glass of ice-cold water by a lonely Lola. But it was tiring to wait several minutes in the dark for scene changes or watch the antics of Marie and Turk (Josh Cooke) in their cat-and-mouse courtship. Took the constant fussing with putting chairs, tables and lamps here, there and everywhere hindered continuity and reflected poor direction by the usually skillful Michael Pressman.
This tale of alcohol addiction, frustrated hopes, desires unrealized, secrets of unwanted pregnancy, forced marriage, and unrequited love has a most important story to tell.
Somehow, the simple, short-lived applause registered by the audience at the end of the play told me that my disappointment was shared by many.
Come Back Little Sheba The Kirk Douglas Theatre 9820 Washington Blvd. Culver City
Tuesday - Saturday @ 8:00 p.m.; Saturday @ 2:00 p.m.; Sunday @ 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.;
Tickets $20 - $50; Tel. 213-628-2772; Until July 15.
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