Review: Cliche' BREAKING LEGS at Ocean State Theatre Company

At its core, BREAKING LEGS is the story of a well-meaning guy who gets an offer he can't refuse, and then quickly realizes he's in way over his head. It's a classic storyline that can be re-worked countless ways and still resonate with an audience. Unfortunately, in order to reach the logical conclusion of this piece, playwright Tom Dulack trots out every Italian-American stereotype in the book, as well as a few racist and gay jokes leaving the viewer shocked that a play so well-acted and directed can come off so boring and underwhelming. Many things work well in this production, but when the play itself seems incredibly dated and sloppy, it never comes together and the whole endeavor just feels off.

Professor Terrence O'Keefe has written his first play and is looking to secure funding to bring it to life. Despite the fact that he's a college professor who has lived a rather staid life, his play examines the question of murder. That brings him to the world of a former student of his, Angie Graziano, her father and his associates. Angie dropped out of college to work with her father Lou in their Italian restaurant, though the amount of money her father says they make there seems incongruous with how few paying customers there are. Eventually, Lou and his friends Mike and Tino agree to finance the play, and offer Terrence far, far more money than he initially asked for. His elation turns to dismay when Angie's uncle winds up dead, and his backers start offering too much constructive criticism.

There are a few standout performances in this show, particularly Brandon Whitehead as Mike Francisco. He serves as the leader of the group, the godfather, if you will, and manages to both menace and charm at the same time. Christopher Swan as Terrence O'Keefe is an excellent straight man contrasted with the more bombastic characters on stage, and he manages to not get overshadowed and hold his own against the more cartoonish antics going on around him.

Sophia Blum as Angie Graziano does fine with what she's given, but considering that her character could just as easily be re-named "female character", she doesn't get to do anything interesting. Even though she is the link between the professor and her father's associates, she spends most of the play offstage procuring food for the men from the restaurant kitchen, or just prancing around in a series of tight outfits. Eventually there's a forced romance between her and the professor, which makes little sense and adds nothing to the production.

The sets, lighting and direction all work very well, and the pacing is absolutely perfect. It's obvious that director Fred Sullivan Jr. has a keen sense of comedy and knows exactly how to massage a joke so that it lands well, it's just a shame that so few of the jokes in the play are actually funny. The director cast and crew certainly did the best they could with a piece of writing that just never comes together well. Cliches can certainly entertain, but they also need to surprise, and there is just nothing new here. Instead this feels like a tv movie made in the 80's, that may make the viewer chortle, but never come to a full laugh.

(from left) Chris Perrotti as Tino and Brandon Whitehead as Mike photo by Mark Turek

Breaking Legs is playing at Ocean State Theatre in Warwick through February 14. For tickets call (401) 921-6800 or visit www.OceanStateTheatre.org.