In Mixed Company's The Food Chain at PlayWright's Theatre
(out
of 
)Mark S.P. Turvin
(home office) (602) 912-0117
I can be reached for comment via e-mail at: mspt@goldfishpublishers.com
(out
of )Since the regrettable collapse of the avante garde The Actors Group a short time ago, much of the responsibility of performing plays that would not ordinarily have been seen by Phoenix audiences has fallen to fellow upstart group In Mixed Company. Their latest offering is the darkly comic work by Nicky Silver, The Food Chain. Not for all tastes, the show is a solid production of a slight work.
Director Scott Balthazor has staged this piece, which revolves around the mysterious and often silent auteur screenwriter Ford, whose quick marriage three weeks before to the self-centered and highly neurotic Amanda has resulted in a sudden two week hiatus. Desperate, Amanda calls a suicide hotline, and reveals her torment to Bea, a Jewish mother with more than enough problems of her own. Meanwhile, on the other side of Manhattan, male model Serge is being stalked by former lover Otto, whose obsessions have allowed him to baloon into an obese, conflicted nutcase. Eventually, by the end of the evening, all of these characters wind up together through a series of highly improbable coincidences that re-establishes their world order.
Before going any further, I must say that while many people are fans of Nicky Silver's work and this play in particular, I find it to be much ado about nothing. While there are several funny moments and interesting bits, overall, the forty minute first act is nothing but exposition of the first three characters, the thirty minute second act is exposition of two more characters, and the final act is not enough of a payoff to justify waiting those seventy minutes. That said, I am impressed with In Mixed Company's production, which includes solid performances and interesting visuals.
The best of these performances is the over-the-top portrayal of the pathetic Otto by Kevin Kerrigan. Mr. Kerrigan knows that this character should have as few subtleties as possible, and he takes every opportunity to overplay in amusing and enjoyable ways. It is his arrival in the second act that really begins the jocularity of the piece. Barbara McGrath gives a very good performance as phone therapist/Jewish mother Bea. She, too, knows that underplaying could be the death of her character, and thankfully, she mugs and intones as often as possible.
Solid performances come from Katie McFadzen as the neurotic Amanda, Scott Ryder as the egomaniacal Serge, and Brian Howland as the indecisive Ford. Ms. McFadzen has the unenviable task of carrying, nearly single-handedly, the first act of the show, where she explains and explains and explains her situation to the engrossed Bea. Unfortunately, with so much explaining going on, Ms. McFadzen is unable to really act very much, but when given the rare opportunity in the script, she does a good job. Mr. Ryder's character is more reactor than actor in the second act, but he is able to hold his own comedically by the end.
Mr. Bathazor's pacing of the show is appropriately frenetic and interesting, and he does a good job with what little the script is able to give him in terms of action.
Visually, In Mixed Company has done a great job in the new PlayWright's space. Brenda Coover's set is a turntable that is able to bring forward the fishbowl feeling of the play, and Dave Vaught's lighting uses odd elements, such as black light, to enhance the proceedings. Celia Erickson's costumes work well, also, including the realistic "fat bag" that creates Mr. Kerrigan's necessarily stocky frame.
While this play may seem like empty calories to me, it has been favorably reviewed by others and has played to packed houses to this point. As the last remaining established company intent on bringing avant garde theatre to the valley, this is a good sign, and hopefully ensures many more interesing choices in seasons to come.
Production Details:
The Food Chain by Nicky Silver
In Mixed Company at PlayWright's Theatre, Phoenix
834-3032
November 6th-November 23rd, 1997