West Hollywood, California (November 12, 2009) - Great pieces of drama also work as comedies. If well produced and acted, plays like Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf? or Buried Child can be so unsettling that some audience members find it easier to laugh at the characters’ wild dysfunction than to allow the true consequences of that dysfunction to sink into their souls. 
Steve Walker, Rebecca Jordan. Photo courtesy Scarcity, playing at needtheatre (Fatboy). WeHo News. |
Add Lucy Thurber’s play Scarcity, enjoying its West Coast premiere through Nov. 22 at Imagined Life Theatre, to that list of plays. This story of a Massachusetts family on the verge of economic and moral collapse is so unflinchingly honest and realistic in its depiction of suffocating dysfunction and despair that several audience members were guffawing at the goings-on, while others gasped aloud or quietly moaned.
Although certainly not for everyone, serious theatre-goers looking for a riveting, well-acted, edge-of-your-seat domestic drama (with touches of sex and class politics) will thoroughly enjoy this wonderful production.
“I can pinpoint the exact day and moment you gave up hope,” 11-year-old daughter Rachel tells her unemployed, alcoholic and oddly over-attentive father Herb.
However, dad isn’t alone; hopelessness permeates this family’s DNA. Exhausted mom Martha is the thin glue holding the family together – working as an assistant manager at the mall while simultaneously exploiting/avoiding the amorous advances of her cousin Louie.
Louie would rather make unsuccessful passes at Martha, play designated driver for Herb, and buy food for their kids, than spend time with his long-suffering and not-too-bright wife, Gloria.
Wendy Johnson (l.), Randy Irwin, Rebecca Jordan, Steve Walker. Photo courtesy Scarcity, playing at needtheatre (Fatboy). WeHo News. |
Mom and Dad shamelessly play out their Jack-Daniels-fueled, passive-aggressive relationship, enjoying passionate lovemaking and lacerating arguments within ear-shot of their two children.
The second generation of Lawrence’s has the brains of the family, but this only intensifies the tragedy of their dead-end lives. Tarot-card-reading bookworm Rachel is wise beyond her years, and serves as the family’s ironic, protective voice of reason; the family’s sole “adult.”
Sixteen-year-old son Billy is academically gifted and attractive, but the de facto “man of the house.” He tells Rachel he’ll either go mad or die if he can’t escape his stagnant existence.
The entrance of Billy’s young, attractive teacher into this family’s life changes everything. Recognizing his potential, she offers Billy a lifeline – a possible scholarship at a prestigious private school, which she’s happy to arrange via her Ivy-League connections.
As she and Billy explore this opportunity, though, it becomes clear that Ms. Roberts is sexually attracted to her young student. Is this attraction the motive for her academic intervention with Billy, or an accidental result of it? Just how far will she go? Will Billy exploit her interest to escape his crushingly futile destiny? If so, will his parents allow him to escape? What will happen to the sister he leaves behind? Saying any more about the plot would be criminal – catch the show and find out.
Jarrett Sleeper (l.), Bridget Shergalis, Kim Swennen. Photo courtesy Scarcity, playing at needtheatre (Fatboy). WeHo News. |
Each cast member deserves accolades. You care about these people, even like them, despite their self-destructive behavior.
Rebecca Jordan is magnificent as Martha; she feels the character down to her bones. Exhausted, protective yet negligent, full of life, love and loathing, her performance is a tour de force – and sure to win awards.
Randy Irwin’s Herb is Martha’s opposite. So nuanced, so subtle, at first it seems he’s doing very little. But he retains your sympathy despite his indifference and drunken lasciviousness – and you understand why Martha stays with this loveable deadbeat. He skillfully delivers exactly what the story demands.
Kim Swennen does stunning work in the equally challenging role of teacher Ellen, who is too smart to understand that the poor have pride. Swennen avoids judgments. You’ll find yourself thinking about her performance afterwards, wondering how she pulled off a character that would be merely a “heavy” in the hands of a lesser actress.
Jarrett Sleeper, making his Los Angeles stage debut as Billy, is perfectly cast and hits all the right notes. His mature performance is intelligent, brave, confident, and pulls no punches. Talented and movie-star attractive, Sleeper seems destined to go far.
Kin Swennen, Jarrett Sleeper. Photo courtesy Scarcity, playing at needtheatre (Fatboy). WeHo News. |
Astonishingly gifted Bridget Shergalis plays Rachel. She’s almost too good. Her performance is so focused and fully realized, so tightly wound, it’s hard to take your eyes off of her, even when others are center stage.
As Louie, Steve Walker does great, multi-layered work. Wendy Johnson, as his put-upon wife, uses her unique voice and expressive face to create a simple-minded yet fully-drawn woman within two short scenes. Her brief performance is nonetheless heart-breaking.
The realism doesn’t stop with the actors. Set design and costumes by Adam Rigg and sound design by Josh Senick authentically create the low-rent surroundings. Kappy Kilburn’s direction is excellent, although scene changes seemed a tad sluggish.
Presented by needtheatre (Fatboy). Performances Fri. & Sat. 8 pm; Sun. 2 pm at 5615 San Vicente Boulevard. Tickets $20; students and seniors $17. Reservations: 1-800-838-3006.
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