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Why Torture Is Wrong, and the People who Love Them Reviews
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Review by: Tom B., May 11, 2009 |
"Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them"
Public Theater
Playing through: May 10
Without spoiling your evening, "Why Torture..." is not really about torture. It's about reconciliation. It's about the desire to take back your bad decisions and make things right again. But since it's written by Christopher Durang, it goes at these serious issues in a relatively absurd, outlandish, biting, and ... read more frequently brilliant fashion.
The story is simple: Felicity (Laura Benanti) awakes after a night to drinking to find herself married to Zamir (Amir Arison), a man of vague Middle Eastern descent -- but who claims to be Irish. When Zamir turns out to have an extremely volatile temper, no job and no prospects, plus a mysterious past, Felicity decides to annul the marriage. Since Zamir threatens violence at this suggestion, Felicity looks to her parents for help -- especially her arch-conservative father, Leonard (Richard Poe).
Leonard obsessively toes all the Conservative lines: hates immigrants, loves guns, thinks the gays ruined marriage, won't have the U.N. spoken of in a positive way in his home and thinks shouting "Don't you remember 9/11?" atones for any statement of xenophobia, paranoia or incitement to violence. He's like one of the suits in a Tom Tomorrow cartoon: spouting the justifications of the Limbaugh dittoheads with such unashamed fervor that it lays bare the ridiculousness of their positions.
When Dad meets Zamir, you can imagine where his mind leads him. Actually, given the whacked nature of the world Durang has created, you probably can't. Which is exactly why you should see "Why Torture is Wrong and the People Who Love Them" as soon as you can, especially since it is scheduled to close May 10. Go if for no other reason than to see the brilliant comic actress Kristine Nielsen as Felicity's mother, Luella, who has built a wall of denial that would put the Chinese to shame. Go to see John Pankow's Reverend Mike (he married Felicity and Zamir), a Christian who actually champions the true principles of Christ (love, forgiveness, kindness, gentleness), while at the same time being a pornographer. ("God created sex. He watches it, why shouldn't we?") Go for the amazing turntable set that is able to create so many different settings that it is almost like a magic trick.
If I were being critical, I'd say the play is a bit loose in its timing, and starts a little slowly -- but I was laughing too hard and thinking too much to really be critical. This is satire that cuts so cleanly that it takes a while to realize you're up to your ankles in blood. |
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Highly Recommended... But MUST Have a Sense of Humor!!! Review by: BroadwayBabySawIt, May 3, 2009 |
| Wow! This one has it all - great acting, a set so alive, it seems like another cast member, and great writing and directing. The fun here is that the first half is a comedy... but the second half is a thoughtful and heartfelt allegory about our desire to fix the last 8 years, namely the new American Dream, undoing the mistakes of a corrupt so-called government that we never elected in the first place. Absolutely incredible writing from Mr. ... read more Durang, and enough theater references to satisfy the most intrepid theater lover. A special word of congratulations to Kristine Nielsen who plays the Mother - she is delivering the most delicious comedy turn on the stage this season, brava! Highly recommended for everyone with a sense of humor who is happy that this nation HAS turned a corner, and is growing more mature in its real role in the world. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| * Review is an opinion of a BroadwayBox user and not that of BroadwayBox.com and BroadwayBox, Inc. |
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