The Show: The House of Blue Leaves by John Guare.
The Setting: New York City on the day of Pope Paul VI’s
visit in 1965.
The Pros
This quirky, dark comedy about an aspiring (but hopelessly
untalented) songwriter (Ted Wold) whose day job is at the zoo,
and his zoo of a home life that includes a deranged wife (Lana
K. Hoover), a daffy, bouffanted girlfriend (Lisha Brock) and a
son (Skyy Moore) who is intent on blowing up the pope,
features a fine cast that feasts on the oddities of the
script. The show has the feel of the type of theater popular
in the era in which it is set, including abundant
theater-of-the-absurd overtones. This B.J. Cleveland-directed
production is not a knee-slapper, but it is a well-crafted
piece of theater that is full of surprises and some moments of
great poignancy.
The Cons
This show is a departure from the usual fare presented at
this theater. Some may find the characters and situations too
ridiculous to accept. And the powerful, unexpected conclusion
may be too much of a shock.
Best Reasons to Go
Most of the characters have monologues that are delivered
directly to the audience. These moments of breaking the fourth
wall provide some of the play’s most revealing and
enthralling moments.
Running Time
1 hour and 40 minutes with one 15-minute intermission.
