For fathers who fool themselves, violence is the only truth.
Deano’s crime-free life comes with a frustrating price: A wife who doesn’t excite him and a son whose softness is embarrassing. What’s an ex-heavy to do? With ill-health advancing, our patriarch is forced to take stock of his swapped life sooner than he thinks when the elder son bursts onto the scene with some demons of his own.
There is perhaps no relationship more complex and combustible than that between father and son.
It’s a life bond based on honor and tradition, as much as it’s steeped in envy and competition. But let’s not diminish the ‘dames.’ This is a domesticated gangster yarn where women quietly take control by falling apart at the calculated time.
What transpires is a gripping sequence of intimate moments filled with confrontation, remorse and “yes!”, oral sex. Act I takes its sweet time assembling the chaos to come, where Act 2 plays like a fast motion fishbowl as the characters are crammed together knowing that an unlucky few will soon float on top.
The actors circle and stalk each other in a naturally stylized way, the only false moment occurs in a brief grapple between the male leads that has surely smoothed during the show’s run. Fine work by Stephen Gifford (Set Designer) who has created a cat & mouse maze allowing the players to dump their emotional baggage on different levels, as if plugging random holes in a sinking ship.
The cast ricochets off each other with gruesome glee. There are fine performances all around, as the character portrayals are seemingly divided into two groups: The fierce and the farcical — which lends an air of delightful unpredictability.
deSantos draws fine performances from all especially Laura Gardner (Ruth) whose boozy/bawdy portrayal of Deano’s 1st wife is part Jean Smart, part bulldozer on brandy. Edward Tournier (DJ)the softer son that begs to beaten with his own lunchbox solidly plays off 2nd act standout, Jack Maxwell (Rocco)Deano’s wayward heir who puffs and paces like a trapped animal too blind to realize the cage door swings both ways.
Both entertaining and engrossing “RAZORBACK†is Richard Fancy’s (Deano) show – embodying a man who must define his past in order to defy it. John Pollono (Playwright) builds a bold story where the onstage menace evokes real fear and stinging laughs – both in equal measure.
“RAZORBACK†was overwhelmingly chosen to be produced through ROGUE MACHINE’s unique festival event ‘Rogue’s Gallery Play Reading Festival’ and marks the 3rd main stage production (following the critically acclaimed West Coast Premiere of “AMERICAN DEAD†by Brett Neveu and Jeffrey Hatcher’s “COMPLEAT FEMALE STAGE BEAUTY†for LA’s most innovative new theatre company.
ROGUE MACHINE proudly presents the World Premiere of “RAZORBACKâ€written by John Pollono directed by Elina deSantos produced by John Perrin Flynn
ROGUE MACHINE 5041 Pico Blvd., LA, CA 90019
Performances thru Nov 2, 2008 — Thurs-Sat at 8pm/Sun at 7pm.
$25 Tix Call (323) 960-7726 or go to www.roguemachinetheatre.com
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