If laughter were not so incorporated in the drama of Crimes of the Heart, the show would be dismal indeed. It follows the struggle of three estranged sisters, who come together and reconcile after the youngest shoots her husband in the stomach. Lenny Magrath, the oldest, has spent her life slaving away to care for a grandfather who doesn't appreciate her. Meg Magrath, the middle child, has moved to Hollywood to pursue a singing career and ends up a clerk for a dog food company. And Babe Magrath-Botrelle has unsuccessfully tried to murder her husband and has been caught in a scandal with a 15 year-old black boy. Needless to say, these sisters have issues.
The back-story to the tragedy is revealed in frequent references to the Magrath sisters' parents: their father left them, and their mother hanged herself in the basement. Each copes with the pain in her own way, whether by suffering in silence or compulsively looking at morbid photographs. In addition to their haunted pasts, the three sisters also suffer the attentions of their busybody cousin Chick, played by Liz Eldridge. A prominent society lady, Chick succeeds in pushing all the worst buttons for each sister with a perfectly despicable holier-than-thou air.
The action of the story centers around Babe, played by newcomer Brittany Matava, who stubbornly refuses to explain why she attacked her husband -- other than the fact that she "didn't like his looks." Then, with the gentle prodding of older sister Meg, played by Jessie Gilligan, Babe reveals that she is protecting her juvenile lover, Willy Jay. This information is then passed on to Babe's young lawyer, Barnette Lloyd, played by Jake Koenig. During the course of the trial preparations, Babe and Barnette start to fall for each other.
Things start to deteriorate when the impulsive Babe, fearing her husband's retribution, attempts suicide, only to be thwarted by Meg. Then, news comes that Grandfather Magrath has gone into a coma, and his odds aren't good. But somehow the three sisters rally together through all their trials and lovingly share a birthday cake, "one day late," in honor of Lenny's 30th birthday.
With all the horrible things plaguing the three sisters, it is a testament to the cast's strong acting that Crimes of the Heart classifies as comedy. Or, as director Loren Dunn put it, a show "so tragic it's funny." Set entirely in a kitchen, the action is limited to occasional catfights; it is the straight-faced delivery of absurd lines that draws laughs in this depressing story.
Loren Dunn and John Astin chose Crimes of the Heart as JHU Theatre's tenth performance for its strong female roles and entertainment value. "Ultimately we want to provide entertainment for students as well as the surrounding community," said Dunn. While nof a credit program, JHUT operates in association with theatre classes, with instructors often acting and directing. The goal is to, "create a company that's using both students and professionals to give students a chance to learn from more experienced actors and directors."
The six-person cast was picked by Dunn and Astin from open auditions. Since both are theater teachers at Hopkins, many roles end up going to students in their classes. As Dunn explains, "The result being that they get a lot more experience, they're out there training instead of just doing it for fun." And all that hard work paid off.
In the role of Lenny, Gilbert nails the unassuming older sister and gives her character depth and humor. Her acting talent shines best when Lenny finally snaps and violently runs Chick out of her kitchen with a broom, then reenters triumphantly to call up and old beau and have a delightfully sexy phone call. Playing the busybody cousin that everyone loves to hate, Eldridge seems to relish giving everyone trouble. She delivers laughs and high energy, all with a perfect southern accent. After being absent for much of the first act, just hearing Eldridge's booming voice offstage in the third act was hilarious.
Brittany Matava took naturally to her role as the innocent and na*ve Babe. A freshman on the JHU stage is unusual, but Matava showed no hint of discomfort playing the vehicle of an otherwise slow story. Her open, childish face carries her character through murder and adultery with the audience still cheering her on. Matava's effortlessness was taken a bit too far; when images of her activities with her lover are brought up there is an uncomfortable feeling that children so young shouldn't know about such things, much less do them. However, Matava's brilliant energy covers up this minor flaw.
In the female-heavy cast Jake Koenig shone as handsome and charming lawyer, Barnette Lloyd. Also equipped with an impeccable southern accent, Koenig demands the audience's attention, his voice strongnd his whole body showing his passion for his case, and for his attractive client. Matava and Koenig had great chemistry, and it might have just been the lighting, but it appeared that Koenig was even bashfully blushing under Matava's attentions.
Rounding out the cast was Jessie Gilligan as Meg, and Praem Phulwani as her old lover Doc Porter. Gillingan seemed a bit uncomfortable in her role, but then warmed up nicely as she let her hair down, turning into a happily-buzzed drunk. Praem Phulwani was stiffer than his gimp leg, but created awkward romantic tension when reencountering his lost love.
The pinnacle of the entire show is when drunken Meg has just sworn to tell her grandfather the truth about her failing singing career even if it puts him in a coma. The other two sisters, more aware of his condition, burst into uncontrollable laughter. The inappropriateness of the laughter simply drives the energy higher until all are holding their aching sides, wondering why they are laughing at something so tragic. To draw so much humor from so much tragedy is a work or art, and expert acting and directing pulled it off.
Crimes of the Heart will be showing in the Merrick Barn this weekend, Nov. 4, 5, and 6. General admission is $8 and student tickets are $4.
