Actors Theatre of Phoenix' Parallel Lives: The Kathy & Mo Show at The Herberger Theatre Stage West
(out of 
)Mark S.P. Turvin
(home office) (602) 912-0117
I can be reached for comment via e-mail at: mspt@goldfishpublishers.com
Reviewed 3/18/00
(out of )Get ready for another feminist-slanted slug-fest with the return of the acclaimed two woman comedy, Parallel Lives: The Kathy & Mo Show. It's often funny, occasionally witty, and generally well-acted and staged, but it simply hasn't held up quite as well in the seven-or-so seasons since it first swept into Phoenix. While it's true that it does have local success story Kathy Fitzgerald appearing opposite the very talented Katie McFadzen, the script authored by comedians Mo Gaffney and Kathy Najimy has lost quite a bit of the punch it once had. Many of the gags and observations seem more like a rehash of Saturday Night Live sketches. While there has been some obvious updating, the thing that keeps this evening of theatre enjoyable is a mix of the performances and well-paced direction by Kirk Jackson.
The two women offer twelve episodic sketches. As is often the case with this type of production, some are uproariously funny and incredibly astute, and some are just kinda lame and facile. Playing a myriad of characters, male and female, from supreme beings to downtrodden Texans, Ms. Fitzgerald and Ms. McFadzen change personas instantaneously. Each has pinpoint comic timing, and can read an audience and each other in an astoundingly professional way. With punchier, more updated material, this could be as sensational a night out as well, as the first production of this show was back in the early '90s.
Ms. Fitzgerald is the unspoken lead of this evening, as she carries a slight bit more of the show than her counterpart. Unfortunately, when playing parts like youngsters and teenagers, her performance flattens out to somewhat annoying stereotypes, screeching her way through a teenage girl on a date, and painfully slurring as a drunken Texas barfly. This is balanced, though, by many of her dead-on portrayals, such as an older Jewish woman, and two of three sisters in a dysfunctional family. During the Three Sisters sketch, the most poignant, Ms. Fitzgerald really differentiates her two characters well, sliding inside of, rather than hiding behind, two opposing sisters.
Ms. McFadzen is subtler with her portrayals, avoiding excess even when she dons the characters of a frat boy and a prototypical Italian Bronx girl. Her highlight, and perhaps the highlight of the show overall, is her portrayal of the morning ritual sketch, Silent Torture. Here, Ms. McFadzen and Mr. Jackson give a pinpoint accuracy to the ablutions most every woman faces to present herself to the world.
Mr. Jackson has done well in bringing these two actresses together on the many different levels they work. There is a camaraderie that transcends some of the mundane material of the piece. Watching these two talents work together with rarely a misstep is a testimony to their acting prowess.
David Ledsinger's set design is workable, if uninspiring. Better are Gail Wolfenden-Steib's costumes and Paul A. Black's lighting. Mr. Wolfenden-Steib's creations are good for quick changes, and occasionally inspired, as in the Shakespeare sketch. Mr. Black's lighting mixes a lot of old standbys, such as starlit scrims and gobo effects, in some interesting ways. Also solid is Darin Stillman's sound design, and Cat Dragon's textually-limited prop design.
I must admit, I did not see the first two productions of this work, but had heard wonderful things about them. I can imagine that sketches about Tampons and Confessionals were much "fresher" near the start of the last decade, but these days, nothing is sacred, and even the most frank work dims in comparison to some of the hackle-raising plays coming out of New York and Europe's jaded theatre communities. While all that is true, it doesn't stop the fact that there are definitely many great gags, and some perceptive moments of performance to recommend this show.
Production Details:
Parallel Lives: The Kathy & Mo Show by Mo Gaffney and Kathy Najimy
Actors Theatre of Phoenix
The Herberger Theatre Stage West, Phoenix
(602) 252-8497
March 17th - April 2nd, 2000