Italian American Reconciliation(12/09)

 Italians love to contrast the grand and glorious gesture and the mundane, or as the “Italian American Reconciliation” playbill depicts, boxing gloves and roses.  Thus, it is fitting that the small but highly respected Ruskin Group Theatre sits in a pocket of the Santa Monica airport, an easy shot from the freeway with free parking galore.

 

You probably know author John Patrick Shanley’s name as the writer of the critically acclaimed hit movie “Moonstruck” and his Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play and Oscar contender film, "Doubt."

 

Shanley to this writer is revered as much for the endlessly watchable and charming “Moonstruck” (1987), and that the author would not allow filming if one word of the script was changed.  Reading the about perfect script at the Motion Picture Academy proves why.

"Italian American Reconciliation," a comedy about a man’s obsession with his ex-wife in order to regain his sense of manhood, opened in New York in 1988 with much fanfare and has popped up, staccato-style, around the country ever since to mixed reviews,  including Los Angeles. 

Whether it was the theatre atmosphere, the extraordinary cast or because the moon was in the right place, it roared by at the Ruskin, entertaining and enchanting, especially the stellar performances by the two beautiful leads, Nordic blonde Amy Jacobson Ruskin (known for her reporting career on national network TV) and exotic brunette, Cloe Kromwell.

The ensemble has so chemistry with each other it feels as though the characters are speaking their minds unscripted in this romp of a lively production.  Credit is due to the cast and to director Rae Allen for making this an audience favorite as proven by the number of extended dates in the current run.

Even before the friendly Aldo (John Collela) comes onstage to welcome the audience, New Jersey Frank Sinatra style, winsome Artistic Director, John Ruskin (yes,married to Amy last May) introduces his theatre to the audience with an invitation no one can refuse.  

Set in New York‘s Little Italy, the play feels more New Jersey Sopranos as it explores the thoughts and feelings of a group of Italian-Americans who prove their friendship and character to each other while raking the past over the coals on the subject of intimacy, closure, low self-esteem and dysfunctional relationships – a highly literate onstage version of “Friends”.

Subtitled a folktale, Teresa (Cloe Kromwell) wants Huey (Andy Lauer) but he can’t commit because he has unresolved issues with bitter, hard-as-nails ex-wife Janice (Amy Jacobson Ruskin)  so he has to get her back.  Huey can do this only by having his oldest chum, Aldo set it up.  Aldo and Janice are old childhood enemies but Aldo loves Huey enough to give it a try. 

Meanwhile Huey must first break up with his current waitress girlfriend, the long-suffering Teresa (Cloe Kromwell).  Aunt May (Mary Margaret Lewis) is there to commiserate and throw in words of support, such as explaining Teresa’s absence: “She had a bad night so she got up and went to Canada.” 

Thus, the plot is set for the guys to resolve the mystery of the female.  This is no easy task; Janice is so mean she shot Huey’s dog to ward him off and points a gun to Aldo well before Huey makes his entrance.  

Huey gives it his best shot nevertheless in a combination Cyrano and psychiatric session, with the most vivacious dialogue in the play.  Deadpan and revealing, speeches contrast in grand style between an exaggerated “big picture” to the minutiae that helped form it, from unresolved parental issues to unrequited teen-age crushes.

And Shanley has such a way with words, such a way with words.  You want to write down the lines though after writing in the darkened theatre the only phrase that makes sense are “…. emotions have power.  (It was like) the past threw a bag over his head……  You’re numb, you’re like a cut off thumb in a glass of water.” 

Produced by John Ruskin and Mikey Myers, Lighting Design by Nate Cargill and Designer Christine Silvoso’s  big feeling on a small stage sets work perfectly.  So does the welcoming, neighborly attitude of the entire crew.

Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm,  Sundays at 2pm. Tickets: $20.00 ($15.00 for students, seniors, and guild members).  For information, call 310-397-3244 or go to ruskingrouptheatre.com. Running through January 23, 2010.