Four Places
Joel Drake Johnson's provocative play, Four Places, offers insight into the problems that face siblings of aging parents. A once-a-week luncheon ritual between Ellen (Roxanne Hart) and her Mother, Peggy (Anne Gee Byrd) is a bit surprising to Peggy today because her school teacher son Warren (Tim Bagley) has joined the twosome. Peggy is suspicious from the start and wants to know why Warren isn't in school; his explanation is that today is a school holiday, but is it? As they drive to Peggy's favorite restaurant where Barb the waitress (Lisa Rothschild) always gives her special attention, she somehow feels uneasy.
At the restaurant, Ellen's and Warren's conversation turns to discussing things at home between Peggy and her dying husband. It seems that Peggy's housekeeper has alerted them to the fact that she has been abusing her husband; that the two of them are drinking heavily and perhaps Peggy is a danger to their father. As the conversation continues, Peggy tries to balk at any of their suggestions, saying that the housekeeper is a crazy person. She tries to fend off their questioning by repeatedly running to the restroom. In the final analysis, Peggy realizes, she wasn't simply taken out for an afternoon lunch with her two siblings.
Since Ellen and Warren have already made arrangements that will change their mother's life, their guilt overwhelms them. Both Hart and Bagley portray these two characters to perfection. Hart's facial expressions and body language show the hurt and frustration she is feeling. And Byrd is the epitome of a mother being betrayed by her children.
A production of Rogue Machin, Four Places is cleverly staged by Mark Guirguis (in limited space), and admirably directed by Robin Larsen. It can be seen at Theatre-Theater, 5041 Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles through July 25, 2010. Tickets are available online at www.roguemachinetheatre.com, or by phone at (323) 960-4424.