Tranced
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Leonard, Borba, Fiscella, Tazel
Photo by Ed Krieger
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By Ben Miles
When playwright Bob Clyman isn't working as a dramatist, he's kept busy as a private practitioner of clinical psychology, in Essex County, New Jersey. But Clyman's latest script, Tranced, is currently having its world premiere staging on the opposite coast, at the Laguna Playhouse (through February 3).
The perplexing and convoluted plot of Tranced centers on a graduate engineering student named Azmera; she hails from a politically volatile African country. In an effort to remedy her panic attacks, Azmera seeks treatment from Dr. Phillip Malaad, a renowned hypnotist now residing in Washington D.C. During a hypnotic trance, facilitated by the famed mental health specialist, Azmera recovers a so-called repressed memory; it's a startling recollection that may have international implications.
In an effort to save Azmera's fellow countryman, without violating his patient's confidentiality, the good Dr. Phil discloses the story to a newspaper reporter (whom he, for his own reasons, calls Beth instead of Elizabeth). Because the journalist is also bound by the ethical and legal codes of her profession, the Doctor assumes his anonymity will be preserved. Conveniently, the reporter has a link to the Under Secretary of State for African Affairs--a prurient diplomat known as Logan.
With talk of dam construction, corrupt and brutal Third-World dictators, as well as incidental biographical details from the various characters--playwright Clyman has given us an awful lot to chew, but at the expense of narrative cogency, ultimately leaving us little food for thought. Despite Jessica's Kubzansky's plain-wrap direction, the esoteric nature of the subject, coupled with the amorphous quality of the drama, prevents us from becoming thoroughly entranced in this effort.
With a stellar cast (Thomas Fiscella dominates the stage as the doctor. Erica Tazel brings lively credibility to her characterization of Azmera. Ashley West Leonard, as Beth, provides worthy opposition to Fiscella's Dr. Malaad, while Andrew Borba lends a thorny interpretation to the role of Logan.), and high-end, albeit rather unimaginative, production values (scenic, costume, and lighting designs by Narelle Sissons, Julie Keen, and Jeremy Pivnick, respectively)--Tranced offers a few mesmerizing moments, but at this point in production, too few to sustain this two-hour and fifteen-minute staging.
Tranced plays Tuesday - Saturday at 8 p.m. Matinees are on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. The show continues through February 3 at the Laguna Playhouse--606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. For reservations, dial (949) 497 - 2787 ext. 229. For more details, visit www.LagunaPlayhouse.com.
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