Crimes Of The Heart
comedy, "Crimes of the Heart." It was her first full-length play,
and the 29 year-old Henley was the only woman to win this
prestigious award in almost three decades.
Because of its plot-line, parallels have been made between the
three sisters in "Crimes of the Heart" and Chekhov's "Three
Sisters." In fact, Henley's play was so popular, five years later
it was adapted into a film starring Jessica Lange, Diane Keaton and
Sissy Spacek.
And now through June 6, it's back at South Coast Repertory under
the astute direction of Warner Shook. Both Shook and his superb six-
member cast give it their all. They truly knock themselves out
trying to capture the outrageous, off-the-wall tone of the original
production.
The problem is, everything about contemporary comedy has
escalated so much over the past 30 years, "Crimes of the Heart" isn't
as deliciously naughty as it used to be. No matter how good the
cast is (and they are excellent), no matter how many hoops they jump
through, today's audiences have seen new stuff that is more titillating.
Set in 1974, "Crimes" weaves an unbridled Southern Gothic treatment
through the troubled lives of three eccentric sisters who grew up in
the small-town of Hazlehurst, Mississippi. Each of them is burdened
with disappointment, unfulfilled dreams, and "outrageous crimes" of
one sort or another. But they muddle through by sticking together
with one cockamamie scheme after another.
Lenny, the eldest (Blair Sams), keeps house for their old
granddad who is in the hospital. Middle-aged and unmarried, lonely
with low self-esteem, she carries the weight of the world on her
shoulders. To make matters worse, her horse just keeled over and
died, and no one remembered her birthday.
Meg, the middle sister (Jennifer Lyon) is a blond fire-cracker who
left home years ago with stars in her eyes. She also left her
boyfriend (Nathan Baesel) with a broken heart and a broken leg. Now
the old boyfriend is the town's doctor, and Meg's singing career is
completely kaput.
Then there's kooky Babe (Kate Rylie) whose husband is nearly dead
because she shot him. Why? Because she didn't like the way he
looked, or talked, or bossed her around. That's all she'll say.
When Lenny calls her sisters home because old grandaddy is in the
hospital, Babe nonchalantly mentions the shooting. Of course they
have to get a good lawyer (Kasey Mahaffy), who turns out to be
Babe's old boyfriend.
All hell breaks loose when evidence crops up against Babe, and
the police show up to arrest her; then Babe tries to kill herself
like their mama did, and Meg stays out all night with Doc Porter.
Meanwhile, waltzing in and out of the house is cousin Chick
(Tessa Auberjonois), a hypocritical snob who is embarrassed by the
disgusting behavior of her dysfunctional family.
All the antics take place on Thomas Buderwitz' fabulous set
under Peter Maradudin's lighting. If you'd like to join in the fun,
call (714) 708-5555 or visit www.scr.org for ticket information.
"Crimes of the Heart" plays Tuesday-Sunday through June 6 at SCR,
655 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa.