BWW Reviews: Theatre West Mounts Winning GOODBYE, LOUIE...HELLO!

Goodbye, Louie ... Hello!
written by Allan Manings
directed by John Gallogly
Theatre West
through May 8

Allan Manings' world premiere play about two aging stand up comedians starts off with a couple of jokes from Louis Berns (Alan Freeman) and Benjy Gordon (Steve Franken) but the tired old jokes turn sour when a deep dark secret is revealed in Goodbye, Louie ... Hello! now onstage @ Theatre West. With an outstanding cast, very detailed writing and sharp direction ...Louie becomes an engrossing winner.

Plays about McCarthyism/blacklisting strike a tender nerve as American constitutional rights are knocked against a brick wall. Honest men were forced to lie about their colleagues and best friends by naming names in order to keep working in the industry. Many an important Hollywood bigshot lost credibility and integrity through selfish actions, but who knows what one would do under the same circumstances to survive? It's a tough ballgame.

The beauty of this play is that little by little we see Berns' mental condition weakening as he suffers from painful memories of his time in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee. His sudden plans to leave New York to live out his days in Arizona startle his son Scott (Paul Denniston), daughter Aimee (Maria Kress) and lifelong working partner Gordon who prefers to remain in his so-called cockroach infested apartment in NYC. Scott, also an actor, bears a grudge against his dad, as Louis has never fully accepted Scott's decision to give up law in favor of show business. Aimee, though married with kids, is still more attached to her father and bemoans his decision to move to a retirement community 2500 miles away. But a heavier dilemma is yet to come. When Scott suggests that his dad be interviewed for a retrospective magazine article in Vanity Fair, enter reporter David Watson (Roy Vongtama) who discloses some info that rattles Louis and causes all hell to break loose. Gordon, best pal and regular card-playing crony of Louis, has been unaware of how Louis caused the ruination of his solo career, but now there's a reckoning that could destroy their friendship forever.

The ensemble is terrific with Freeman marvelous as Louis Berns, the wise-cracking comedian who has pretty much suffered in silence 'til now. Franken as Benjy, the straight man of the act, is reserved, gentle and sensitive, underplaying the role to perfection. Denniston gives a heartwarming performance as lonely and flustered son Scott and Kress is caring and supportive as Aimee. Vingtama is most effective in his brief scene. Director Gallogly offers fine pacing throughout, allowing the actors plenty of room to vent their emotions.

With the exception of some onscreen clips at the top, a few stale, tired jokes during card games and some racist jabs at Chinese restaurants, humor is not at the core of the play. I would prefer a little more to counteract the tragedy that gradually unfolds. But this is not The Sunshine Boys. It's about as real as one can get. Perhaps as good as it can get as well! Goodbye, Louie...Hello! is an absorbing evening in the theatre that you should not miss.

 

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