Slasher

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Slasher

At the Zephyr Theatre

Reviewed by Les Spindle

November 13, 2009

Photo by Stephanie Kleinman

It's not clear whether Allison Moore's horror-film riff is intended as an all-out genre spoof in a David Zucker–Jim Abrahams–Jerry Zucker vein, a pitch-black satire with chilling undercurrents, or something different that hasn't jelled. The Los Angeles opening of this play, which premiered at this year's Humana Festival, was marred by certain viewers who broke out in raucous laughter virtually every time actors entered or began speaking. This further
exacerbated the production's stylistic confusion and unsteady comic timing.

In Austin, Texas, naive Sheena (Steffany Huckaby) brings home the bacon via her thankless job as a scantily clad waitress. Her battle-ax mother, Frances (Suzanne Ford), pops pills and wheels around the house in a scooter, barking out vehement tirades. Sheena's younger sister is the bookworm Hildy (Joanna Strapp, struggling to find a shred of humor in a superfluous role). When Marc Hunter (Tim Cummings), a lascivious and egotistical director of cheesy horror films, comes to town to cast his latest project, Sheena sees this as her ticket to stardom. She auditions and lands the plum role of the "last girl"—last to be killed, hence having the most screen time. With the aid of an eager-beaver country-bumpkin assistant (Brendan Bradley), Hunter commences filming. The overwrought feminist Frances, who holds a grudge against Hunter, invades the set, and things get bloodier than anticipated.

Director Lee Sankowich and his designers pull out all stops to achieve creepy effects—from fake blood to eerie music—but the gimmickry is more impressive than anything in the dialogue or characterizations. Ford and Cummings come closest to hitting the mark, finding scattered moments of wry fun and showing evidence that they could shine with better material. Bradley enthusiastically portrays the stock hayseed. Deb Knox displays versatility in bit parts, including a crusading moralist and the hapless victims in the film. Huckaby's performance as the well-meaning but clueless sexpot has a listless, distracted air. "Laugh until you scream" proclaim the ads, but the production unfortunately doesn't elicit much of either response.

Presented by Deborah Taylor/FireMused Productions LLC and Lee Sankowich LLC at the Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. Oct. 29–Dec. 13. Fri.–Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m. (323) 960-7776. www.plays411.com/slasher.