BWW Reviews: THE HOUSE OF YES - Not a Place for Everyone

The House of Yes/by Wendy MacLeod/ directed by Lee Sankowich/Zephyr Theatre/ thru June 14, 2015

For those who like their black comedy extremely black, The House of Yes just might be the perfect show for you! The House of Yes' ideal for those with the combined acquired taste for incest, mental illness, and unsympathetic characters. The many-times-proven talented director Lee Sankowich leads his abled cast through the inexplicable paces of Wendy MacLeod's tricky script, which must have been much more controversial in its original production 25 years ago. What with references to the JFK assassination and the main character's referred to as "Jackie-O," MacLeod's play must have been a hot ticket.

Play opens with a rather confusing scene of Jackie-O and Anthony tidying up, re-arranging furniture. Could not figure out the two's relationship to each other. BFFs? Roommates? Definitely not married or in a sexual relationship.

Kate Maher plays Jackie-O, the concern and focus of everyone else's attentions, as she's crazy. Maher sharply delivers a defiant, unapologetic portrayal of insanity. Jackie O's looked after by her know-it-all mother Mrs. Pascal (broadly limned by Eileen T'Kaye, much more fun as Silda in Other Desert Cities at ICT last year) and her younger, naive, quirky brother Anthony (a quirky Nicholas McDonald). All prepare for the long awaited arrival of Jackie-O's twin Marty (an effectively solid Colin McGurk). In the midst of a particularly strong hurricane (great sound effects from Norman Kern), Marty comes home with a surprise guest, his new fiancée Lesly. Jeanne Syquia charms as Marty's bride-to-be, the donut shop worker from Pennsylvannia. Her earnestness in making a good first impression on her future in-laws and her appealing vulnerability make her "Lesly" the only sympathetic character in this House. Syquia also gets to dispense the best put-down in the play, "I don't think you're crazy, you're just spoiled."

Despite everyone tiptoeing not to upset Jackie-O, her manic reactions/relapse become inevitable.

Easily the most naturalistic scene-- when Syquia's Lesly attempting to convince McGurk's Marty to leave Jackie-O by detailing the pleasant normal activities they've share day-to-day. Very nice!

Stage business of Anthony keeping Jackie-O's dirty bandage and later sneaking off with Lesly's make-up remover pad goes unexplained.

Bravo to the entire cast, especially Maher, for their total commitment to MacLeod's words. Rounds of applause to Adam Haas Hunter for his vivid 1980s living room/bedroom set and to costumer Wendell C. Carmichael for his recreation of Jackie-O's pink outfit and pillbox hat.

www.plays411.com/houseofyes

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