Generic’s Balancing Act Doesn’t Quite Work
By MAL VINCENT
By Mal Vincent
The Virginian-Pilot
“Art of Murder,” the opener of Generic Theater’s 28th season, has trouble balancing laughs with chills.
The so-called “comedy-thriller” is one of those most difficult genres to bring off. Too often the laughs get in the way of dramatic involvement, leaving one conflicted whether to be tickled or threatened.
This play aims rather low for the venerable local theater’s auspicious debut in its spacious and impressive new quarters beneath, and between, Chrysler Hall and Scope arena. After years in cramped, hot-in-summer, drafty-in-winter quarters, the company now has a spiffy location. And it isn’t hard to find – by the street off St. Paul’s Boulevard or via the parking garage inside Scope.
This opening production, though, might be more suited to a dinner theater in which the audience votes on whodunit.
It’s the kind of play in which the maid reacts to the sight of a gun by bumping into the wall and everyone talks very casually about murder.
The “art” is mostly in the subject. Jack, a minor artist, is meant, we are told, to be the kind of knockout looker who could be on the cover of Rolling Stone. (An artist on Rolling Stone? That’ll be the day). He has been palming off his wife’s paintings as his own. She’s so ga-ga about him that she doesn’t care, but even at that, the paintings aren’t selling.
The wife, who’d like to take back her own identity, and talent, reasons that Jack would be better off dead. His paintings would sell more and she could continue to turn them out under his name. They’d triple in price in 30 days, the art dealer reasons. The swishy dealer also likes the idea because he sees only dollars and cents. (After all, even Vincent van Gogh didn’t sell until he was dead!)
Playwright Joe DiPietro has concocted several twists, but halfway through Act II, there still isn’t a proven dead body. Every twist is almost immediately followed by a contradiction. Standard stuff. DiPietro has been represented at the Generic previously by the hit musical revue “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.” He is apparently better at amusing us than at puzzling us.
Under the direction of Matthew Friedman, the cast of four works in largely broad terms, clearly going more for comedy than threat. Since it is doubtful that anyone could make this a real work of art, we should give them credit for enlivening the proceedings.
Tony Robinson, who often has to strip down to go into an isolation tank, is suitably arrogant and obnoxious as Jack. He even makes leering sexual advances toward the maid (played by Destiny Kish with an Irish accent that comes and goes). He’s the closest thing to a threat on view for those who were hoping for a mystery rather than a comedy.
His wife, Annie, is given a lively and sympathetic reading by Laura Murphy. Here is a woman who clearly is infatuated by her husband but can only take so much. When she calls him a monster, he pulls her back into line by merely whispering, “Kiss me.”
Maybe he deserves to die.
Laying on more ham than you could find even in Smithfield, Joel King has apparently been encouraged to pull out all the tired gay stereotypes as the art dealer. He’s the kind of person who screams that he’s “famished” rather than says he’s hungry. Given his over- the-top reading in Act I, it’s impossible to take him seriously as a potential murderer in Act II. Then, maybe we’re trying too hard to take him seriously.
The set, credited to Jason Martens backed by a team of construction workers, is fine; it also immediately suggests that we can hope for fuller mounted productions in the company’s new home. Perhaps more impressive than the set itself is its dressing, credited to Jeannette Rainey. It is a bit cluttered but, after all, this looks like a place where phony artists might hang out. (But do they really need three telephones on one table?)
The art pieces on view, which add much to the ambiance, are credited to Norfolk artist Jack Callan.
“Art of Murder” provides a casual enough kind of light entertainment evening. It will better please those seeking mild comedy than those who want an involving mystery.
Mal Vincent, (757) 446-2347, mal.vincent@pilotonline.com
theater review
What “Art of Murder,” the comedy-thriller by Joe DiPietro
When 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays, through Sept. 14
Where Generic Theater downunder Chrysler Hall, 215 St. Paul’s Blvd., Norfolk. Parking is inside Scope garage on the lower level. The theater is under, and between, Chrysler Hall and Scope.
Who Directed by Matthew Friedman; featuring Joel King, Tony Robinson, Laura Murphy and Destiny Kish
Tickets $15; $12 for seniors, students, military; $10 for age 25 or younger; (757) 441-2160
THEAter REVIEW
“ART OF MURDER”
What The comedy-thriller by Joe DiPietro
When 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays, through Sept. 14
Where Generic Theater Down Under (512 St. Pauls Boulevard, Norfolk. Parking inside Scope parking lot on the lower level. The theater is under, and between, Chrysler Hall and Scope arena)
Who Directed by Matthew Friedman, featuring Joel King, Tony Robinson, Laura Murphy and Destiny Kish
Tickets $15; $12 for seniors, students, military; $10 for age 25 or younger; (757) 441-2160
Originally published by BY MAL VINCENT.
(c) 2008 Virginian – Pilot. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.