Following such landmark spoofs as Caged, The Children's Hour and the now legendary Imitation of
Imitation of Life, The TWEED Fractured Classicks Series is back with a delightful parody of the
1946 classic The Postman Always Rings Twice which starred John Garfield and Lana Turner. One of
the best film noirs of all time and an early prototype of today's erotic thrillers, The Mailman
Always Comes Twice is a reconceived and rewritten vehicle (those pesky "cease and desist" orders!)
by Kevin Malony and Stephen Pell for Varla Jean Merman that any diva would kill for - literally.
As Nora Papanakadapoulos, Varla (a.k.a. Jeff Roberson)-along with her stud-muffin lover Nick Chandler,
wonderfully played by cutie Bradford Scobie-plots to kills her husband Gus, Daniel Booth, and manages
to look stunning in one black and white costume after another, all superbly captured by the fabulous
set design of Jim Boutin and lighting of Mark T. Simpson. It's all delicious and malicious fun as the
script pulls out every film-worn cliche in the book and makes them fresh as a daisy. The only misstep
is a courtroom scene that incorporates an ABBA-inspired musical sequence that is jarringly out of place
and should be cut and rewritten immediately. However, Nora's song "White Swallow" (yes, go there...) is
worth the price of a ticket alone. Funnyman Mark McCombs is on hand in supporting roles as is David Ilku
and "professional glamorpuss" Sweetie.
A lot of glamour is also on-hand at The Cort where Hollywood Arms, the thinly-veiled autobiographical play
by Carol Burnett and her late daughter Carrie Hamilton, is playing. Glamorous acting, that is. Based on
Burnett's memoir, Linda Lavin, Michele Pawk and Frank Wood portray her grandmother, mother and father in
this charming memory piece that, if rather rambling and unfocused, is well-meaning and touching. Lavin
gives yet another astonishingly nuanced performance as Nanny and Pawk has landed the best role of her
career-to-date as the alcoholic Louise whose life is spiraling out of control. The acting alone is well
worth your time and, if you love Carol Burnett (and who doesn't?), the play has a poignancy and depth thatıs
heart breaking
Also worth your time is A.R. Gurney's The Fourth Wall at Primary Stages. Having knocked around the country
for ten years, it's finally hit New York and Gurney's razor-sharp dialogue and insights are a welcome breath
of fresh air. Part satire, part absurdist comedy and part social-political commentary, The Fourth Wall is a
fabulous piece of theatre that director David Saint has smoothly fashioned into a showcase for veterans Sandy
Duncan, Charles Kimbrough, Susan Sullivan and David Pittu. That they all get to sing and dance Cole Porter
tunes is just the icing on the cake in this scathing indictment of our country's waning interest in the arts,
apathy towards mankind and the current Bush administration's incompetence in practically everything. Duncan,
recently sensational as Roxie in Chicago, is mesmerizing, looks amazing and sings like a dream. Together,
these four stars are a theatrical knockout.
Editor's Note:
The Mailman Always Comes Twice is at The Chelsea Playhouse, 125 West 22nd St (6th/7th) thru Nov 24th.
Tix at 212-358-3436. Hollywood Arms is at The Cort Theatre, 138 West 48th St. Tix at Telecharge, 212-239-6200.
The Fourth Wall is at Primary Stages, 354 West 45th St thru Dec 1st.
Tix at 212-333-4052.
Recently in Theater:
Movin' Out & Annie
Amour, Debbie Does Dallas & Blessing in Disguise
Flower Drum Song & A Man of No Importance
Burning Blue & Betty Rules
|
