Nicky Silver’s radically funny morality play, brilliantly directed by Vince Petronio and acted by an ensemble of five talented actors, had the press night audience in hysterics at Burbage Theatre.
Those of us who were part of, or at least remember the protests of the sixties will enjoy the dark humor and twisted morality displayed by a dedicated, if somewhat misdirected group of radical protesters who often can’t even remember what they are protesting.
Petronio has set the action in one room with one king-size bed, as the young radicals’ lives intertwine at one fast pace.
Sydney (Valerie Westgate) a wealthy soap opera star, is in love with Ethan (Patrick Keefe), the parasitic so-called radical whom she showers with gifts and money, while he puts her down for her conflicting lifestyle.
And then there is Ronald (Kevin Broccoli), Sydney’s brother, the lonely homosexual who looks for love in the wrong place, bringing home Lance, a male prostitute (Courtney Stafford), whom he immediately falls in love with and proposes marriage.
While I thought Stafford underplayed his role a bit, Broccoli comes on like gangbusters, leaving the audience in stitches with his naiveté and reactions to what is going on around him.
Meanwhile, there is Cybil (Paige Barry), a lesbian who is torn between her lover, whom we never meet (She’s sort of undercover) and Ethan.
A shot is fired. A pillow smothers. Who is the victim?
All of these crazy antics get tied up in an hour and a half one-act, fast paced, hysterical turn of events
The play is not only politically incorrect, it exposes and dissects political incorrectness.
If you need to laugh, this is the play to see before Burbage closes out its run and its season on April 15.
Burbage operates out of Aurora at 276 Westminster St. in downtown Providence. Tickets are only $20, $15 for students and seniors, $10 for RIC students. Reserve on their website, boxoffice@burbagetheatre.
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