There's a plot, but John Orlock's quirky period piece more closely resembles a series of disparate scenes designed to show off the skills of its performers than a cohesive, emotionally layered story. The play receives thoughtful treatment from the four-person cast and director Dennis Gersten, resulting in interesting moments but not a fully satisfying theatrical experience.
The lone constant throughout the two-hour piece is the setting: a parlor in the Louisville, Ky., home of Viola and Florence Becker (Elizabeth Wells and Maaren Edvard), sisters in their 40s who appear resigned to a life of spinsterhood. After all, it's 1902, and prospects for these shy women are slim. But things change with the mysterious arrival of a package containing three books, including a guide to eligible men, which leads to an encounter with two unusual bachelors. There's mesmerist Amos Robillet (Jeff Robinson) and his assistant Winfield Davis (Mark Neal). Amos doesn't speak and instead mouths his words while Winfield speaks for him in a different voice. The explanation: Amos lost the power to speak, but he shares a psychic bond with Winfield.
Neal, thanks to his spot-on portrayal of a classic snake-oil salesman, provides plenty of laughs with his Southern drawl and sharp comic timing. Wells and Edvard handle the more complicated task of bringing depth to these tragically lonely women. Orlock's script involves wild personality shifts and forays into fantasy, and Wells and Edvard refrain from overplaying, so there's always a sense of believability. But Orlock mixes styles excessively, while providing little character development, so it's difficult to sympathize for anyone or to care much what happens.
Presented by the Michael Chekhov Studio and Theatre Unlimited at T.U. Studios, 10943 Camarillo St., North Hollywood. Jan. 23–March 14. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m. (818) 238-0501.