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A Misguided Laura
By Rob Stevens
The 1944 Otto Preminger movie Laura is, as the press material states, "a classic
film noir" and "a stylish mystery thriller." Unfortunately the current revival of the stage
play, first produced in 1947, is none of the above. The production at the Tiffany Theater in
West Hollywood is an intermissionless 100 minutes of sheer agony and/or boredom,
depending on your level of tolerance.
John Iacovelli’s film noir set design, and especially the furnishings by Pat Emery,
are the production’s highpoints. Then actors appear and open their mouths. It’s not the
fault of the actors, well, some of them are quite amateurish, but the script and direction
offer them no aid. Vera Caspary & George Sklar’s stage adaptation of Caspary’s novel
just isn’t very stylish, mysterious, or thrilling. It could easily fall into camp territory today
with lines such as "You can not call me a murderer and then light my cigarette." Director
Lynette McNeill has no idea what mood to strike, so the story and the actors flounder
about a nicely decorated stage.
Linda Hamilton as Laura seems ill at ease on stage and never creates a hint of
mystery or sensuality for her character. But she comes across better than most. Robin
Thomas as the detective who falls in love with a painting while trying to solve a murder
has no chemistry at all. The character of Waldo Lydecker is described as lacerating and
naughty, but Stanley Kamel shows none of those traits. As the closeted homosexual in love
with Laura, he shows no style, no wit. He whines more than anything else. His character is
more key to the play than Laura herself, but because of his misguided performance,
the whole show is adrift. The other people who populate the stage, note I did not call
them actors, are best left unnamed. Rent the film.
Laura, produced by Judy Arnold at the Tiffany Theater, 8532 Sunset Blvd. in West
Hollywood. (310) 289-2999. $25. Thur-Sat, 8; Sun, 2. Closes Dec. 17.
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