The season theme for the New Rep is always in the back of
my mind for each new production. It is
interesting to me how different time periods, forms, and characters can still
have the same core themes and ideas.
Illusion comes quickly to mind when thinking of both “Rancho Mirage” and
“The Elephant Man.” In “Rancho Mirage”
the couples are under the illusion that their lives can, in fact, be perfect.
The Rancho Mirage is the aptly named development where
two of the three couples reside. The
name is apt not for the abundance of ranches, but for the mirage of security
that comes from living in a gated community and the residents’ adherence to
“keeping up appearances.” In the
production, two Rancho Mirage residents Diane (Tamara Hickey) and Nick (Lewis
D. Wheeler) host two other couples for a dinner party. Despite their bankruptcy, they serve the
expensive wine and offer to order food when dinner is ruined. As the night progresses (and the bottles of
wine empty), the truth pours out.
Scene designer John Howell Hood models the stage into a
living room that is warmly lit and provides the illusion of comfort:
overstuffed pillows rest on micro-suede couches, two fireplaces frame an
expanse of earth-tone tile, artificial plants add purpose to staggered end
tables. Every object falls into the same
color palette: dull green, desert yellow, clay red. The effect creates a space that is inviting
and comforting, but also suggestive that the couple is afraid of standing out
too much. Whether through painting the
walls the wrong color, or buying the wrong type of wine, it matters, to them,
what other people think.
The first scene in particular reveals that theme of
blending in. Diane recites a list of
items that Nick is forbidden to mention during dinner. Her message is clear: by ignoring the “taboo
subjects” they can be the perfect hosts.
Everyone will feel comfortable at the party, conversation will be pleasant,
and they will communicate without providing additional information on their
situation to their friends. Nick, quite
predictably, brings up all of them in the first 15 minutes of the party.
It’s tempting to draw conclusions about the characters based
on gender. The men trust each other more
easily, but the women are more honest.
The women’s honesty may actually be their barrier to trust, since they
use facts as weapons against one another.
I wish the production had done more to counteract these stereotypes.
Although I found the story-lines to be a bit exaggerated,
the hyperbole is usually redeemed by comedy, and the character-driven
production features strong performances by the cast. Cate Damon, as soft-spoken, pious Pam,
delivers several of the most humorous lines of the show. Abigail Killeen, as Type-A Louise, is a
wonderful paradox of a boisterous personality keeping her own secrets. John Kooi as Charlie is the only noticeably
drunk character after two hours of drinking and no food, which helps to ground
some of the revelations.
-- Victoria
Petrosino, New Rep Reviewer
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