SUNDAY DINNER review

In my teens I lived for two years with an Italian family in Brooklyn, and this delightful play made me feel right at home again. Not that family secrets and bitter confrontations didn’t happen in my own Irish environment, but the style was different. 

This perceptive dramedy explores how one group deals with their secret shames when a young priest, the apple of his mother’s eye and the respected confidant of his father, returns home for a visit that lifts the lid off too many long-suppressed secrets.

Playwright-director Tony Blake explores how we each have the right to speak and be heard, but are we willing to risk the consequences. 

One character’s ironic, “The truth shall set you free!” is soon demonstrated to be perhaps the greatest hurt of all. Once known we can never go back, and the final revelation shows how the truth can actually be a dagger in one’s heart. But, as Blake makes clear, it must finally be spoken.

As the matriarch, Sharron Shayne is a gentle spirit who one and all want to protect; and as paterfamilias John Combs is a blustering dad who believes family always comes first no matter the consequences. James Tabeek, as their Son the Priest, demonstrates the conflict between protection, the truth, and standing on principle.

Also excellent are Michele Schultz as the fierce maiden aunt; Kevin Linehan as the bossy older brother; Meghan Lloyd as the plaintive sister-in-law, and Dennis Hadley as the jovial but hurting cousin. You have to see the play yourself, since to describe the amusing, if sometimes tragic conflicts, would give it all away. Go and discover it.

The impressive set by Jeff G. Rank, and eclectic costumes by Michéle Young, pull you into this realistic Bronx-family world. Produced by David Hunt Stafford for Theatre 40. At the Reuben Cordova Theatre, 241 S. Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills.

NBY. January 2020. BAD HABITS review, SUNDAY DINNER, DISPOSABLE NECESSITIES, THE GIVER.

Alley Mills & Orson Bean

BAD HABITS (Santa Monica)             

Having spent ten years living among nuns in a British Catholic Boarding School I must admit none of them had such bad habits as these Sisters of St. Cyril. This bevy of virgins often curse like truck drivers, make snide comments about their young school charges, have a drinking problem, and in general behave more like Hollywood tarts than the nuns I knew. But, as my friend director Fran Freedman quipped, “Morna, perhaps you should have recused yourself!”

Yes, the audience clearly loved it, especially when they were drawn into the action as stand-ins for little kids in school. The cast, even though all in imminent danger of excommunication, were excellent. Even Orson Bean, as the shrewd local Bishop, entertained delightfully with jokes that were perhaps rather risqué for a man of the cloth.

Alley Mills was the humanistic Mother Superior over Sisters’ Mouchette van Helsdingen, Jacquelynne Fontaine, Lee Garlington and Jacquelin Lorraine Schofield (who I wish could have finished her soaring solo that threatened to bring down the house). Kelsey Griswold dazzled as the mysterious visitor and Jennifer Sagiao was a formidable secretary and deft furniture mover.

Humorist Playwright Steve Mazur claims to be “the proud product of a parochial school education” and I suspect he got caned on his knuckles quite a few times. Director Mike Reilly says, “This is, ultimately, a life affirming, joyful play” and he certainly brought it to life for the matinee audience.

Imaginative set by Brad Bentz was perfect framing for Michael Mullen’s elegant traditional nun’s costumes.

At Ruskin Group Theatre, 3000 Airport Ave, Santa Monica. Tkts: (310) 397-3244 or www.ruskingrouptheatre.com. Free parking.

SUNDAY DINNER (Beverly Hills)

Michael Matera, a young priest stationed in Chicago, returns to his parent’s home in the Bronx after his grandfather’s death. As the Matera clan gather at the family home for Sunday dinner dark secrets of sin, secrecy and shame start to unravel. When his father confesses a crime to Michael he refuses to give him absolution yet has guilty secrets of his own to deal with. This world premiere drama is written and directed by Tony Blake and produced by David Hunt Stafford. At Theatre 40, in the Reuben Cordova Theatre, 241 S. Moreno Drive, Bevely Hills. Tkts: (310) 364-0535 or www.theatre40.org. Free Parking.

DISPOSABLE NECESSITIES (Venice)

In this play, the disposables in the title refers to people aging and dying but, due to the wonders of the digital world, it’s possible to download one’s soul into another host or body. However, only the very rich can afford this and can even choose to be anyone they desire. Playwright Neil McGowan takes a comedic look at greed, the value of life… and even death! Directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos and produced by John Perrin Flynn. At Rogue Machine Theatre, 1416 Electric Ave, Venice. Tkts: (855) 585-5185 or www.roguemachinetheatre.com

THE GIVER (Westchester)

This multimedia presentation takes us to a futuristic community where life is idyllic, with designated mothers, appropriate family units and assigned partners. Here is a precisely choreographed world where a young man finds everyone obeys and no one thinks to ask questions. Jonas’ journey is filled with heightened sensory experience as he goes from this place of no choice,… to where? Adapted by Eric Coble from the book by Lois Lowry. Directed by Harold Dershimer. At Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave, Westchester. Tkts: (310) 645-5156 or boxoffice@kentwoodplayers.org