2nd Story's 'Red Scare On Sunset'

Ed Shea and his troupe at 2nd Story Theatre in Warren, RI traditionally produce once farce each year.   This season he, once again, chose a piece by Charles Busch, Red Scare On Sunset.  He chose well.

Mr. Busch writes fanciful comedies and farce, with a terrific female lead, which he often plays.  He is the author and star of Die Mommy Die, Psycho Beach Party and originated the role of Mary Dale in Red Scare On Sunset.  Charles Busch is a true master/mistress of camp.

In 2nd Story's production of Red Scare, Mary Dale (Joanne Fayan) is a movie star in 1950's Hollywood.  She can crank out as many movies as the studio needs and play all of the roles without a shred of introspection.  Her acting motto is 'Learn your lines and don't bump into the furniture'.

Mary's husband Frank Taggart (Chris Perrotti) is having a mid-life crisis. No longer content with his own acting career or home life, he is seeing another woman, a method-actress named Marta Towers (Paula Faber). Marta draws Frank into the secret life of method acting, which apparently involves swearing allegiance to Mother Russia.

Janine Weisman plays Mary's best friend, Pat Pilford, a comedian with her own successful radio show.  Pat sees herself as a true patriot, sniffing out the communists and homosexuals that hide in the shadows of Hollywood. We are not surprised to learn that Ms. Pilford has some secrets of her own.

Our heroine Mary is busy making a film about the life of Lady Godiva.  Between takes she must save her marriage, her friendship, her other-than heterosexual houseboy (Jonathan Jacobs) and the American way of life, from the commies.

From the over-the-top horror of realizing she is surrounded by communists, to her multiple takes mounting a steed as Lady Godiva, Fayan is divine as Mary Dale. Fayan's on-stage comrades are all at the top of their game.

Tristan Jeffers 'Lazy Susan' set design is clever, given the space.  Ron Cesario's costume designs shout out to the audience who a character is before the character speaks. The lighting design, especially the red floodlights, is well executed.

Director Ed Shea is faithful to Busch's vision of a backward, comedic glance at a very scary time in U.S. history.  The context is serious, but 2nd Story's production of Red Scare is good, campy fun.

    
Red Scare On Sunset runs through February 24th at 2nd Story Theatre in Warren, RI.

Tickets are $25.00 each and can be purchased by visiting the Box Office at 28 Market St., Warren RI or by calling 401-247-4200.

Photo #1: Joanne Fayan as Mary Dale

Photo # 2: Chris Perrotti as Frank Taggart and Joanne Fayan as Mary Dale

Photos Courtesy of 2nd Story Theatre