A Wolf Inside the Fence
One of three plays in the First Look Festival, Joseph Fisher’s dramedy creeps along at a maddeningly slow pace with a plot as thick and tedious as any world history textbook. The knock-you-on-the-side-of-your-head stock characters are of the typical all-American high school trope: the bad girl that smokes out front, a frustrated history teacher, an ambitious principal, and a letch masquerading as a mathematics teacher. Throw in the sound of a school bell along with the faint aroma of hormones, acne cream and adolescent desperation and it feels like enduring homeroom all over again.
To his credit, Fisher does attempt a bit of twist, albeit a darkly disturbing and rather incredulous one, given how all these characters invariably fit (or don’t fit) into each other’s lives. The taboo subject of incest permeates this play like a lingering foul odor. It is plausible to accept the rebellious teenager Marion (Charlotte Chanler) of enduring such horrific abuses. But the history teacher, Linus McBride (Arthur Hanket) to whom she inexplicably bonds also suffering the same fate in his youth starts to push this sort of connection a bit too far. Add the prim but not so proper principal, Judy Bench’s (Amanda Weier) admission to Marion of being a foster child and the likelihood of all these people coming together starts to border on the ridiculous. It’s probable the school letters are AA with all the therapy sessions conducted outside while puffing on Marion’s proffered smokes.
The title of the play suggests some resolve after Linus’ forced admission to skirt-chaser and fellow colleague Harold Carson (Colin Walker) of shooting a wolf on his inherited farm. But the secret—that could land him in jail—leads to nothing more than a buildup of hollow suspense. The wolf inside the fence could very well be Marion, who cozies up to Linus in a misguided transference of affection onto a father figure with his own seemingly difficult father issues. Given the rather deflated conclusion, however, with a reunion that smacks of an afterschool special, Marion is more like the sheep Linus cares for like cherished pets.
The minimal set is complimented with even more minimal direction and staging by Benjamin Burdick. The cast faces off most of the time as in some sort of duel or standoff, but never cheats enough for the audience to see more than three-quarters of their expressions. The crisscrossing staging of the classroom opens up the space for Hanket to tear loose, especially on his sarcastic ladled lectures; unfortunately, for an otherwise fine performance it is rarely used.
Arthur Hanket makes a high-strung, burned out, unappreciated loner likeable and interesting. Deadpan with the occasional ferocious spitfire hysteria, most of the laughs have more to do with his dry delivery than the actual dialogue itself. Charlotte Chanler balances a sensitive side to her tough teen character, but never comes across totally invested in the role. Amanda Weier and Colin Walker can’t overcome the stiffness in their respective chemistry.
Occasionally high school theatre departments will tackle productions of “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” This is more like watching insane characters pretending to be sane high school faculty members. Guess they shouldn’t have removed the teacher’s smoking lounge after all.
“A Wolf Inside the Fence”
Part of the First Look Festival
Runs through Sept 11
Open Fist Theatre
6209 Santa Monica Blvd
Hollywood
PH: 323-882-6912
www.openfist.org