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June 25, 2005
 
RUTHERFORD ON THEATRE: MU's Durang Fest Features Springer-Like Families, Acting Accolades by Frye, McCoy
 
by Tony Rutherford
Huntington News Network Columnist
 
Huntington (HNN) -- Since MU Theatre has decided to bring us a "Festival of Christopher Durang," I must initially say be warned --- anything goes! I mean the playwright has no sacred cows spared, whether lampooning Tennessee Williams or dissecting horrid dysfunctional families who qualify for their own wings at an asylum.
 
Dividing the four one-act productions into two acts, the first act could be labeled take-offs on Tennessee Williams "The Glass Menagerie" and "Streetcar Named Desire."
 
The second act goes beyond theatrical humor, instead, emphasizing incisive satire on traditionally immune societal sacred cows. And one of those pardon the pun sacred objects is The Bible.
 
First things first, however. both Tennessee Williams vehicles, particularly "Desire, Desire, Desire" contemplate the 'future' of his various characters. Laura Frye's animated screams of 'desire' and tossing herself at a census worker qualify her for accolades.
 
Frye quickly establishes an impeccable stage presence as she robustly and semi-sensuously turns an affection starved, aging southern belle, Blanche (think "Streetcar Named Desire") into an animated, exasperated icon of repressed Southern sexuality. She'll trade her titillating flowery dress and high heel strappy sandals for the persona of a brash, 'butch' ball cap and clod-hopper clad loud mouthed lesbian who's tapped as a 'feminine caller' for the son of the glass obsessed Amanda from "The Glass Menagerie." Lawrence (Brandon McCoy) has a medically-challenged son who collects swizzle sticks.
 
After intermission, Frye, who begins MFA studies at Ohio University this fall, impresses as a subdued, yet frazzled neurotic stuck in a family of psychotics suffering from multiple personality disorders and treated by a shrink who hops like a chimpanzee and undergoes a fast-track sexual reassignment surgery and has to borrow some super glue during her session. Brandon McCoy shares acting honors with Frye as he assumes multitudes of personas and faces. He's heading into Jim Carey territory here! Believe me! How the actor keeps the characters straight impresses me, particularly swinging instantaneously from a suave Frenchman, a twenty something son, the father of the son, and a halting, slightly hunch backed granddad. While he's leading the swarming cuckoos of 'dentity Crisis,' he earlier hobbled, scratched and wheezed as the aforementioned Lawrence. He also plays a straighter role in the "Desire" play as a geeky, straight-faced census taker enduring Frye's ever intensifying attempts at seduction. McCoy adds more roles to this presentation as the guitarist on musical interludes. You will find his ode to a senior citizen a hoot! Shifting from Durang's vast theatrical humorous spoofs (he even has cracks about the "Cat on a Hot Ten Roof" and "Harvey" makes a cameo appearance), the irreverent, yet incisive and (after the fact) philosophical, "Book of Leviticus Show" shoots a few darts at those who attempt to interpret each and every passage of The Bible literally.
 
I refuse to be offended due to the obvious intention to portray the overly fervent and obsessed 'believer,' rather than twist scripture. In fact, without giving away the spoiler, I found that a sequel with the Ten Commandments would invoke a curious checkmate for those refusing to deviate one comma or one house of Israel from the Holy Book.
 
And, Frye and McCoy have a strong supporting cast too --- Katherine Mohn, Linda Reynolds, Jennifer Scott, Glenn Spencer, and David Warwick. Finally, a warning: This collection of plays has situations and language that would turn a prude beet red. Those who can handle Jerry Springer familial dysfunction with bumbling slapstick and vast satire should ran to the Experimental Theatre in the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center June 29-July 2, 2005 (8 p.m. curtain). You can also catch it Saturday June 25, 2005 at 8 p.m.