THEATER | At Illusion Theater, Jeffrey Hatcher's "Three Viewings" is reasonably entertaining

Despite gushing, self-congratulatory program notes by author and director, Jeffrey Hatcher's Three Viewings, directed by Michael Robins at Illusion Theater, is reasonably entertaining—though it does not overly impress. An exceptional cast carries a work that goes from superb to serviceable to inept capably through its paces.

A trilogy of connected one-act plays depicts the reverie of a love-struck middle-aged man, a cynical thief, and a hapless widow who have in common that they separately reminisce at the same funeral home. The eponymous Tell-Tale Emil never quite gathered up the gumption to profess his burning adoration to Tessie who, in the great beyond, is well past wooing. In The Thief of Tears, unrepentant grave-robber Mac (actually, she scans obituaries, cons her way into the service, and swipes jewelry from the coffins before the bereaved are interred) arrives at a conscience-pricking moment of truth. In Thirteen Things About Ed Carpolotti, Virginia, painfully naïve sweetheart of an old lady, gets a cold-bucket-of-water awakening about business doings by the husband whose death leaves her in a financial mess.

Each premise engages. Tell-Tale handsomely delivers a payoff that has you nearly howling, laughing at Emil even as you pity the spineless simp. James Cada is wonderful in the role, mining the rich material with subtle authority.

The Thief of Tears offers smoothly wise-cracking Mac, who probably could make just as lucrative a living as a con artist instead of plying her ghoulish trade. You can't help liking her: you just wouldn't let her within five miles of your loved one's funeral. The writing flows but, at the end, hits an implausible snag for which even comedy's de rigueur suspension-of-belief tenet can't account. Carolyn Pool is a marvelously straight-faced cutup as the intermittently foul-mouthed hard-case who makes few excuses for her line of "work."

With Thirteen Things About Ed Carpolotti, Jeffrey Hatcher bottoms out. As we wonder what Virginia will do about her plight, immediacy stalls, obstructed by the playwright's obvious fishing for laughs, including a clumsy caricature (which Robins should've reigned in) as Virginia describes a predatory mob figure. The closing moment, meant to tug at heartstrings, suffers a slick, cloying anti-climax. Barbara Kingsley is brilliant. She enlivens Virginia with the endearing warmth, priceless vulnerability, and understated strength Hatcher supplied. She cannot, however, salvage his inert story line.

Robins (Illusion Theater co-artistic director, with Bonnie Morris) skillfully sustains Three Viewings at a brisk clip, showcasing gifted actors to fine effect. The set design by Dean Holtzman is ingenious.

All said, the production provides an enjoyable evening. You won't be sorry you went to see Three Viewings. Just don't expect to be bowled over.

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Illusion Theater

About Illusion Theater
Illusion Theater was founded in 1974 and presents its season on the 8th floor of the Hennepin Center for the Arts in downtown Minneapolis. Since the beginning, Producing Directors Michael Robins and Bonnie Morris have led Illusion Theater in illuminating the illusions, myths, and realities of our times and in using the power of theater to catalyze personal and social change. In thirty-five years, Illusion has generated over 500 plays, developed thousands of artists, and created ground-breaking educational works. Plays developed at Illusion have been produced in theaters throughout the world. Illusion's work has catalyzed conversations in living rooms, kitchens, coffee houses, and board rooms, and has led to transformations in policy, in organizations, in students, and in individuals.

528 Hennepin Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55403

612-339-4944

http://www.illusiontheater.org

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