Theater review: For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls

There’s not much amusement in the news or politics these days. But The Roustabouts Theatre Company brings some welcome relief in “For Whom The Southern Belle Tolls,” Christopher Durang’s screamingly funny parody of Tennessee Williams’ classic play “The Glass Menagerie.” It’s playing through Dec. 4 at Moxie Theatre.

Two slightly worn banners on either side of the stage feature pictures of odd critters and recognizable people like Putin, Jeff Bezos (or was it Mark Zuckerberg?) and Janet Leigh gazing down.

Four of the city’s finest actors – Wendy Maples, Walter Murray, Omri Schein and Wendy Waddell – make hilarious hash of this well-known (but not funny) play.

In his opening remarks, Director Phil Johnson notes that “the topics of ‘Southern Belle’ are gremlins and handling irritation.” You’ll sense plenty of irritation here, with language to match. Be forewarned.

This black comedy opens with Waddell and Murray, happily married for 13 years, being visited by Murray’s former high school flame Maples. This is a woman with ample endowments and no sense of decency, who says “I’m not fat. I just have a food problem, and some of it shows.” Mentioning that in school “I was very promiscuous” interests Murray, and she wastes no time demonstrating, much to his wife’s annoyance. This gets worse, and funnier, until we get to the next scene.

Omri Schein, one of the city’s best comic actors, gets to do some fun stuff. He plays a waiter (something he’s done more than once) annoyed with his customers, who leaves and returns with a gun and takes a hostage. He plays a desperado for a bit, then takes front stage to say that he wanted to be an actor, “but this story isn’t really about me.”

But in his best bit, Schein plays the hypochondriacal Laura (called Lawrence), who plays with his prized collections of glass cocktail stirrers, which he describes at length. He insists he’s a cripple, so refuses to go out. This drives mom Amanda (Waddell) crazy (or crazier).

Despairing of ever foisting Lawrence off on a suitor because he won’t leave the house, Amanda invites a female caller named Ginny (Maples), who is hard of hearing and overly friendly. Ginny screams during the whole scene – and, wonder of wonders, still has a voice at the end.

There is a section about writing for film, in which the two men come up with a new plot: a rabbi meets a priest and they fall in love. I’ll leave you to find out how this develops.

Acting is uniformly excellent and extremely funny. Wendy Waddell seems to get the most time to play annoyed, and she is convincing. Wendy Maples plays annoying, Walter Murray plays along and Omri Schein is the group’s professional clown. But mostly they’re all just hilarious.

The costumes by Renetta Lloyd and Roz Lehman are outstanding – colorful and, of course, funny. Kudos also to Alyssa Kane’s set design, simple and very amenable to changing set pieces. Chloe Oliana M. Clark’s lighting is excellent as well.

In his opening introduction, Director Phil Johnson describes this as “a welcome one-two punch to the Quarantine Blues.” You will agree.

“For Whom The Southern Belle Tolls” plays November 20, 21, 23, 27, 28 and Dec. 2-4 at Moxie Theatre, 6663 El Cajon Blvd. 

Talkbacks will be held after the Nov. 21 and 28 matinees.

For tickets: https://www.theroustabouts.org/

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination and masks required.