“Last Call” at Atwater Village Theater (Photo – Darrett Sanders)
I am a staunch believer in bringing humor or sarcasm to almost any difficult situation – to de-escalate drama, relieve stress, twist the perspective, or lighten the situation.
By Carol Edger Germain
You might think a family dealing jointly with the deteriorating health, both physical and mental capabilities of the aging parents, as well as trying to manage their own demons and challenges simultaneously, would provide little opportunity for joking. However, this family has mastered the art, and sometimes it serves them well, and sometimes it blocks them from relating on a deeper, more basic level.
Written by Anne Kenney (who has writing credit with Outlander, Switched at Birth, L.A. Law, etc.), the play is semi-autobiographical. Lane Allison directs, and the family cast is comprised of Ben Martin and Lynn Milgrim as the elderly parents (Walter and Frances), Art Hall and Laura Richardson as their children (recovering addict Ricky and “perfect” Jill). Bronte Scoggins enters the already about-to-boil-over fray as Ricky’s pregnant rehab cohabitant girlfriend (Jade). Unfortunately, the possibilities for their future had insufficient time to be developed as everyone was consumed with the parents’ situation. As the parents plot a creative but shocking plan to avoid being put out to pasture in a nursing home,the audience has the pleasure of getting to know their past selves as well as their current selves.
The play is unsettling and uncomfortable outside of the humor, which is exactly how it should be. There is no final group hug, no universal apologies and forgiveness, no happy ending, but that’s life many times, and the subject is universal, most of us will face these issues as they relate to parents and family members or to ourselves, or both. Just a few shows left, runs through March 2.
Another great review for LAST CALL: “UNIVERSAL… this family has mastered the art [of joking]… the audience has the pleasure of getting to know their past selves as well as their current selves.” — Carol Edger-Germain, @ColoradoBlvdNet coloradoboulevard.net/last-call-at-a…