Review: DNA: Does Not Add-Up
DNA/by Dennis Kelly/directed by Laura Steinroeder?/Atwater Village Theatre/thru December 20, 2015
The Red Cup Theatre Company's debut production of playwright Dennis Kelly's DNA unfortunately does not gel as a satisfying story. A group of teenage mean girls and bullies cover up a murder of a fellow student to no apparent consequence or laughs.
Hard to believe the playwright who wrote the book for the award-winning Matilda The Musical created these skin-deep, totally unsympathetic characters devoid of any compassion. The one character of Phil began promisingly enough as Donathan Walters genuinely inhabited the seemingly dim-witted, pleasant non-speaking mute. Walter's Phil became a completely different, quite believable person as the sharp-thinking mastermind behind the very detailed murder cover-up of Adam. Phil's dual/split personalities, however, went unexplicably unexplained.
Hats off to this game cast for their strong commitment to their superficial characters. Katie Kerr nailed the total annoyance of her non-stop talking Leah. Grace Yoo and Nora King as besties Mary and Jan (who inadvertently caused Adam's demise "just for laughs") mastered their own private language, the incomplete sentence back-and-forth only understandable by people on the same wavelength.
Also a head scratcher that Parker Shook's frequently crying Brian would be accepted in this "in crowd." Does he have a rich, influential family or something the others can take advantage of?
Jeremy Ferdman as victim Adam got the ample opportunity to play a calm crazy, as opposed to Brian's more frenzied breakdown.
Others in this cast of meanies include: Rod Hernandez-Farella as John, the top dog of the class (disappearing after his initial scene); Lucas Gust as Richard, the former leader of this clique; Pam Covington as Dani who might just have a sliver of conscience; Allison Henry as the popular girl Cathy; and Sadeeq Ali as Lou the over-re-acting one.
Matthew Gorka and Nicholas Acciani should be commended on their respective designs of lighting and set in this Laura Steinroeder-directed effort.
Reader Reviews
|
The Most Happy Fella North Coast Repertory Theatre (6/03-6/28) |
|
A Haunting Revue II Impro Theatre (6/06-6/26) |
|
Bus People – A Hilarious & Optimistic Take on L.A. Public Transit The Actors Company (6/06-6/28) |
|
E=MC² Einstein The Musical Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center (7/03-7/26) |
|
MISS MAGNOLIA BEAUMONT GOES TO PROVINCETOWN Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Davidson/Valentini Theatre (6/17-6/28) |
|
My Life is a Sonnet Broadwater Studio (6/07-6/27) |
|
STRAITJACKET SIRENS The Three Clubs (6/01-6/30) |
|
Storytellers Theater: PINOCCHIO @ Sac Fine Arts Sacramento Fine Arts Center (6/26-6/26) |
|
The Show Has Been Cancelled (Due to the End of The World) Broadwater Second Stage (6/16-6/27) |
|
The Lion King Pantages Theatre (12/17-2/13) |