La Jolla's Surf Report Engrossing Fare

Surf Report/ by Annie Weisman/ La Jolla Playhouse @ Mandell Weiss Forum/ directed by Lisa Peterson/ through July 11

Catering to the whims of a spoiled womanizing boss and dealing with the philanderings of an ailing husband are but two of the issues facing career-oriented wife and mother Jude in Annie Weisman's engrossing world-premiere play Surf Report now playing in La Jolla.

After 17 years of devoted service to multi-millionaire investor Bruce Ernst (Gregory Harrison) of La Jolla, California, Jude (Linda Gehringer) has a pitch for the development of a machine that will: revolutionize cancer treatment, make her boss a leading philanthropist, if he buys into it, and help her husband in his fight against testicular cancer. The major problem she encounters is her selfish boss' s indifference to the cause. He would rather collect art and surf, and so interpreting her deal as a condemnation of his lifestyle, he fires her for crossing the line. To make life more miserable, Jude's husband Hal (Matthew Arkin), has had an affair with an employee at his privately owned bakery. Daughter Bethany (Zoe Chao), a visual artist now residing in New York, despises her mother's ambition, sympathizes with her father (without knowing of the indiscretion) and gets unwillingly caught up in the family crises. Such is the plot of Surf Report, and Weisman, a strong and intelligent feminist writer, cautiously puts the women in the driver's seat. At her play's finale, however, some character choices are left wide open to interpretation.

Harrison makes a superior scoundrel. He has cornered the market on suave boyish charm, and at 60 is as attractive and charismatic as ever, but never before has he played unwitting self-absorption with such panache. His Bruce is disgusting and a lot of fun to watch. Gehringer is excellent as Jude. Although, she does not get what she wants, she never stops manipulating and finding new options. Chao is a joy as Bethany. Like a frightened and bewildered child, much like her mother, she makes her own way. Arkin's role is a difficult one, as we know less about him until facts are disclosed later, and does a fine job within his confinement. Liv Rooth plays Jena, an old acquaintance of Bethany. With a valley girl demeanor and speech, Rooth creates a quite loyal and totally amusing woman. Her confrontation with Jude on Bethany's behalf makes a refreshing and surprising change of pace scene.

Bruce's character never really undergoes any monumental change by the close of Act II, but Weisman's concern is more with Bethany's future and what she will do to find happiness. Maybe she will have the opportunities that her mother never had. The future is a mystery and we must fill in the blanks. Rachel Hauck's wide open scenic design with the backdrop and floor evoking the ocean and the dolphin sculpture on the upper level serve the play well. There is a dichotomy of two very different worlds created here. Bruce's love of surfing, his desire to be out in the ocean, experiencing a peace and tranquility like no other, puts him on an idyllic plain that clashes with the stress of everyday living. Maybe he's not really the villain here but a guru. Maybe his is the way to go!?