WrecksGeffen Playhouse at the Audrey Skirball Kenis TheaterReviewed by
Les Spindle
February 08, 2010
Yet, thanks to Harris' Herculean acting feat, the contrived ending almost becomes beside the point. Harris' portrayal of Edward Carr, a grieving middle-aged Midwestern man at a funeral parlor, sorting through complex feelings following his wife's death, works on basic human levels that stand apart from the tacked-on story twist. Never mind that the late-arriving information raises serious questions about Edward's morality. LaBute has chosen not to explore these issues. So we perhaps should disregard them, as well, and focus on savoring the nuances of Harris' multifaceted portrait of passion, grief, and resignation. Harris illuminates the ecstasy of a man intensely in love with his wife, 15 years his elder, who has succumbed to cancer. Though Edward says he doesn't have "the touch of a poet," he refers to the late Mary Jo as "absolute heaven come down to earth and squeezed into human form." He recalls his troubled and lonely youth, when he was given up for adoption. He also describes the lucrative business he devised to support himself and Mary Jo—buying and refurbishing classic cars and renting them—providing the play's somewhat ambiguous title. Harris' characterization is likable—very funny at times and deeply moving at others. He convincingly conjures the stream-of-consciousness thoughts racing through this widower's mind on this immensely emotional day. Harris enriches the portrayal when recounting incidents in which Edward's anger got the best of him, as this middle-of-the-road guy shows a wide range of vulnerability and depth. Presented by Geffen Playhouse at the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood. Feb. 7–March 7. Tue.–Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 3 and 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. (310) 208-5454. www.geffenplayhouse.com. |
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