Theater Reviews

May 30, 2009 - Reno Little Theater presents John Kolvenbach's poetic, if strange, love story - "Love Song"

By Jack Neal

John Kolvenbach’s strange play about love and transfiguration is being given an intriguing presentation by Reno Little Theater. RLT’s production opened Friday night (5-29-09) at the Hug High School Little Theater.

Much like Elwood P. Dowd in Mary Chase’s “Harvey,” who imagines he’s in the company of a 6-foot rabbit, Beane – the hero of Kolvenbach’s 90-minute play – imagines he’s fallen in love with Molly, a figment the audience eventually fathoms, of his imagination. Beane isn’t much before Molly appears, but by the time the play ends she has transformed him into an interesting man who has a new lease on life and life on him. “You created me,” Molly says to Beane. “Oh, no,” Beane says to Molly, “you created me.”

Along the way the play allows insights into the psyche of Beane’s sister, Joan, who’s much better adjusted than her initially morbid brother. Credit Joan’s husband, Harry, for the acerbic wit that does much to keep the play afloat while the audience figures out what’s happening.

Smart, whimsical and offbeat, the play is laced with dialogue that’s both witty and poetic. Unfortunately, the wit and poetry of the dialogue is damaged by language loaded with the “f” and the “s” words. Vulgarity that draws attention away from what’s being said disrupts a play’s rhythm. (“How would that line read with the vulgarity removed?” one wonders. Invariably the answer is, “Much better.”)

Joan’s contempt for incompetence (she is the hard-nosed CEO of a business) is hilarious. “Is it too hard to staple?” Joan sneers in the direction of a “dipstick” intern before she fires her. Rhiannon Box’s take on Joan as a tough, driven business woman, with a heart of gold where her brother is concerned, is nicely modulated between humor and compassion. Brian Annis plays Joan's husband, Harry, and there’s no trouble with Harry in Annis’s lightning-bolt exchanges with his less-than-tender wife.

As the oddball Beane, Andrew Mowers is impressive. He has an unkempt, wild-eyed look and lives his limited existence with scant possessions. Beane’s savior appears in the form of Molly, a burglar who is appalled at Beane’s disinterest in commercialism (there’s nothing to steal). Certainly Beane offers no help for President Obama’s current efforts at stimulating the economy. Regardless, the two misfits are an interesting fit and express their love through sentimental exchanges. The play’s most endearing impact is Beane’s new-found elation. It doesn’t just impact him, it rubs off on Joan and Harry’s Act I impersonation of Albee’s Martha and George of “Virginia Woolf” fame, making them much more loveable and loving. As Molly, Kate Orr is dynamic (she’s capable of torrential violence) and riveting. In a small role, Gregory Lintz plays Bill, a waiter, and he’s very much up to the tasks he’s been given.

The set is a reasonable facsimile of what’s needed, but the problematic circumstances of using a high school theater weekends and clearing out during the week make the kind of clever set that’s needed impractical. Bouncing back and forth between Beane’s crummy, windowless flat and Joan and Harry’s upscale apartment stops the action in its tracks. These are not pauses that refresh.

Nonetheless, this is a thoughtful production. Amanda Alvey is the director and she moves the play as quickly as she can given the awkwardness of the play’s eleven scene changes. She also makes the most of Kolvenbach’s clever writing.

“Love Song” is not a monumental play, but it does present the provocative idea that love at least comes close to conquering all. It’s also a well acted, enjoyable 90 minutes of theater.

“Love Song” plays May 29 (the performance reviewed), 30, June 5, 6, 12, 13 (2009) at 7:30 p.m. and May 31, June 7, 14 (2009) at 2:00 p.m., at the Hug High School Little Theater,at the corner of Sutro and North McCarran Boulevard, Reno, Nevada. For information call 775-329-0661 or go on line at renolittletheater.org.