The Lyons
Vintage Theatre: 2/7 – 3/9
Nicky Silver’s “The Lyons”
is dark serious drama with a decidedly comic edge that will set you free! It’s
a no-holds-barred black comedy of the devastatingly funny variety!!
If you think you’ve seen
button pushing controlling
parents and siblings, wait til you meet the Lyons.
The vitriolic matriarch in
August Osage County pales in comparison to Persoff’s performance as Rita.
Ms. Persoff leads this Matriarch-driven
production as Rita Lyons. Now that
her husband Ben is dying the bitterness has come to a head and rather than his getting
a chance for an emotional and sentimental bon voyage, these two come to
loggerheads at the death bed.
Left to right: Joey Wishnia and Deborah Persoff
Their two emotionally damaged children are treated
to a smorgasbord of barbs and insults in their feuding that devastate the funny
bones of not just them, but all in attendance.
Persoff’s performance is vital
and drop-dead funny with a tear in its eye. Her acerbic Rita is by turns
brittle, catty and caustic.
Joey
Wishnia is masterful as Rita’s husband Ben, the exasperated and exhausted
Patriarch. When the phone rings in the middle of one of Rita’s tirades Ben
says, ”I hope it’s death.”
In Bernie Cardell’s
sensationally well directed production laughter accompanies the mean-spirited
thrust and parry of these embittered spouses and their progeny in a way that
may put one in mind of an Albee play. You may also think of the dysfunctional family
of royals in James Goldman’s “Lion in Winter.”
Left to right: Haley Johnson and Preston Britten
Haley Johnson’s performance
in the role of Lisa, Ben and Rita’s daughter is this reviewer’s favorite since
she played Blanche in Vintage Theatre’s production of Tennessee Williams’ “A
Streetcar Named Desire.”
Preston Britton’s portrayal
of Curtis, their emotionally scarred son, turns in what to this reviewer’s eye
is his best work on stage to date.
Nathan Bock delivers an
assured performance at the top of Act Two recalling our memories of his superb
Richard in “The Lion in Winter.”
The correctly sparse and
minimalist scenic design causes the characters to really pop.
Vintage Theatre presents
"The
Lyons"
Ben Lyons is dying and sentimental
goodbyes are abandoned in this delicious dark comedy by Nicky Silver.
Feb.7 - Mar. 9
Fri/Sat at 7:30 p.m.; Sun at 2:30 p.m.;
Thurs. Mar. 6 @ 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Mar 8 @ 2:30 p.m.
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