AISLE
SAY Florida
Starring Sharon Scruggs
Asolo Repertory Theatre
Historic Asolo Theatre, Ringling
Museum,
Sarasota, 941-351-8000;
Jan. 11-Feb. 3, 2008
Reviewed by Marie J. Kilker
From this tour-de-force series of vignettes all narrated
by Sharon Scruggs
comes a short-short story lengthened to epic proportions. A clever set has
angled white walls that move to show backstage costume/character changes.
Wonderful comic-strip-colored projections move the characters from place to
place, time to time. Everything about the staging is better than the story,
concerning redheaded Rhonda, who's in a holding cell, probably a psychiatric
facility. We yawn until we learn that she, wife of Graham and mother of a young
boy, has shot and perhaps murdered someone. Before long the scenery progresses
and Rhonda is morphing into her best friend Lynette. She defends herself while
admitting urging Rhonda to revenge herself against a Russian jewelry saleswoman
who has caused Graham's infidelity. Brunette Lynette is Sharon Scruggs' and author Robert Hewitt's most successful portrait, a
backstabbing , busybody window dresser who was, according to the same actress'
sleazy mustached Graham, having an affair with him. Scruggs also makes a valiant attempt to
convey Rhonda's pitiful young son, but she's too old and big to pull it off
convincingly. Two contrasting characters come out very well: starchy gay
psychiatrist Alex, who preaches forgiveness, and the ultra sexy Russian blonde,
who has no idea what caused the shooting.
Dressers and movers Dee Byrd and Richard B. Williams contribute 100% to the timing
and moves so well choreographed by director Melissa Kievman. Clint Ramos is the genius behind the scenic
and costume designs, with major help from Dan Scully's lighting and projections. Matthew
Parker
contributed effective blaring music and backing for scenic bridges, but spoken
sounds often needed more projection. The production, stage managed by Jon
Merlyn, is an
American premiere. With so little to say, no matter how cleverly Scruggs says it, the show could have been left in Australia without
being missed here.
Time:
2 hrs. plus a 15 min. intermission.