by Alan Jozwiak
According to Max Beerbohm, “People are either born hosts or born guests.” While I am not certain if this adage is true, guests do have a distinct place within our society. A guest gets a chance to see the best and possibly the worst of a person. Such is the case in Zina Camblin’s world premiere play The Guest, running for two more weekends, by Clifton Players.
Camblin, known for work locally as the playwright behind CSC’s Wrecking Ball and ETC’s Fiona: The Musical brings to the Liberty Exhibition Hall stage a loosely autobiographical story of her life.
The Plot of Clifton Players’ The Guest
The Guest tells the story of Jessica (Angelique Archer), a biracial woman, given up for adoption, and finally meets her white mother Marla (Carol Brammer), Marla’s white MAGA husband Gary (Kevin Crowley) and their children Fran (Caitlin McWethy) and Peter (Patrick Earl Phillips). Complication ensues during family game night when Marla’s beloved statue of Jesus gets accidentally broken. By play’s end, that accident will unexpectedly lead to discovering the identity of Jessica’s black father and the tragedy which resulted after their sexual encounter.
Careful Co-Direction
Zina Camblin and Kevin Crowley co-directed this piece, which explains the care and attention given to the scenes where Jessica interacts with individual members of the family. This is a play that swings from broad comedy to touching scenes of family bonding.
Powerhouse Performances
In terms of comedy, the opening scene between Brammer and Crowley was incredibly funny. The opening exchanges typify who Marla and Gary are, how they think about the world, and what they think about Jessica’s impending visit. Also incredibly funny was the catwalk which Fran’s husband Donovan (Justin McCombs) gives at one point in the play. It is somewhat unexpected, but super funny. McCombs also has a fine singing voice, which he displays when his character unexpectedly belts out a tune from the musical The Phantom of the Opera.
Camblin and Crowley also know how to dive deeper into the relationships of these characters. There is a particularly delicate beauty of the rifle scene between Jessica and Peter, where Peter shows off his rifle. Patrick Earl Phillips gives a standout performance in that scene in which Peter reveals his own alienation from his family and longing to escape the small town. It is also an early sign that this play is not going to be solely poking fun at MAGA Americans, but also trying to see their underlying humanity. Also strong is the scene in Act II where the social worker Constantine (Kyndra Jefferies) and Jessica bond after a disastrous experience with family game night. This scene shows Archer’s full range of dealing with the character of Jessica, which goes from confusion, anger, hurt, and acceptance.
Simple Staging
The staging of this play is in the first-floor bar of Liberty Exhibition Hall, allowing the cast to work in a fairly large space that represents Marla and Gary’s living room, kitchen, and basement. Camblin and Crowley construct a believable set that is a natural place for the action of the play to take place. The working kitchen area enhances the believability and authenticity.
This is a play of strong performances. Special praise needs to go to Carol Brammer who makes the audiences howl with laughter at the start of Act I and feel pity for at the end of Act II. It is a beautiful performance from a powerhouse actor. Kevin Crowley also is strong as the retired police officer forced off the service for an unexpected physical injury.
Overall
Perhaps one of the strengths of this play is that all the actors in the cast have places where they sparkle and shine. While this play draws on common stereotypes of Trump’s America, it mercifully does not rest within those stereotypes. The Guest tries to see the common humanity of this family, flaws and all. In short, The Guest has powerhouse acting, a script which can both touch the heart and warm the spirit with humor, and a resolved mystery behind the true identity of Jessica’s father.
Tickets to Clifton Players’ The Guest
Clifton Players’ The Guest runs Friday through Sunday, January 24 to February 8 at Liberty Exhibition Hall, 3938 Spring Grove Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45223. Click here for tickets.
| ReplyForwardAdd reaction |
