(Source: The Dallas Morning News)
By Lawson Taitte, The Dallas Morning News
Mar. 28--Maybe there's a way to make a play about nasty, hard-edged people, such as Closer, more palatable. Safe to say, it's not by making them squishy and lugubrious.
A new theatrical company called Enter Stage Left launched itself Friday with a production of Patrick Marber's piece about sexual intrigue in London. One scene consists entirely of Internet sex. Another takes place in a private room in a strip club. It's hard to keep track of who's in bed with whom, even though there are only four characters.
Dan (Chad Halbrook), a newspaper obituary writer, rescues Alice (Samantha Chancellor) when she steps into traffic and is knocked cold. They become a couple, and Dan publishes a novel based on Alice's life as a stripper. While having his portrait made for the cover, Dan makes a pass at the photographer, Anna (Jessica Layman).
Even after Anna marries a dermatologist, Larry (Chad Cline), Dan pursues her to the point of stalking her. Almost every possible permutation of treachery, jealousy and revenge ensues.
Director Jason Folks also did the sound design, and his choice of music to cover the many scene changes is symptomatic of his take on the play. The tunes are sultry and low-key.
The actors seem competent, speech by speech. But the pace is so slow and the emotions so overwrought that Marber's people, and his play, lose their cool. Only Chancellor really comes close to the frosty soul of her character.
It probably was wise of the performers not to attempt British accents, but the choice pretty much obliterates Marber's class-conscious relationships. It's doubly disconcerting to be watching whiny Americans where there should be angry, soul-wearied Brits.
PLAN YOUR LIFE
Through April 18 at Teatro Dallas. Runs 155 mins. $15 to $20. 972-754-2672. www.enterstageleft.org.
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