University of Virginia Library

Too Many Laughs

I tend to think that this trouble
es not so much in the acting as in
the new "free adaptation" by Paul
Avila Mayer and the direction of
Mr. Ryder. There are too many
laugh in this production (though
not nearly enough for it to succeed
as a comedy). The characters aren't
desperate enough for their scheming
and bitching to have any
strong impact.

Under the circumstances, Rip
Torn plays Edgar satisfactorily,
although occasionally there is a hint
of caricature in his portrayal.
Viva Lindfors does extremely
well in the role of Alice, giving the
character much feminine strength.
Mitchell Ryan turns in a fine,
straightforward performance as
Kurt, Julie Garfield makes a graceful,
if somewhat abrupt, move from
adolescence into womanhood as the
battling couple's offspring, and
Robert Walden seems right as
Kurt's son.

Of course, the possibility exists
that the cast is as much to blame as
anybody else for the play's tepidness.
I can't bring myself to accept
that theory, however, for the fact
that the fault is general and not
specific within the production
points to a case of weak adaptation
or misdirection. In any event, Edgar
and Alice emerge as pussycats
instead of tigers, clawing at each
other but never drawing any blood
and, consequently, never kindling
any theatrical fire.