Nicky Silver's dark farce manages to blend comedy and tragedy in a quirky melange of homophobia, alcoholism, spousal abuse, neuroses, and death. Director Susan Chmurynsky skillfully balanced this dysfunctional bunch on the fine line between humor and pain. Each managed to be worthy of both sympathy and rejection. Michael Schacherbauer was foul-mouthed but sympathetic as the dying husband. His wife never really loved him, and he never really loved his son.
Carol Ferris was selfishly ruthless wife/mother Rita, yet even she evoked sympathy as she tried to “redecorate” her thwarted life. Both Steve Ledyard and Erin Hoffman were hilariously unhappy, battling their demons of rejection/homophobia/alcoholism and coping with maddening parents. Kris Pecora and Mark Polzin were vital puzzle pieces as nurse and real-estate “actor," offering more pain, and maybe a little hope?
This is an entertaining gem that will make you laugh — and maybe make you treat your loved ones with a little more compassion?Continues 8pm Fri/Sat and 2pm Sundays through May 17 ($12/10)www.riverwalktheatre.com