Spotlighters' "Mineola Twins" an Absolute Pleasure

When characters deliver such gems as "Don't ask, don't tell: the formula for modern marriage" and "He said she was a whore from Babylon, but he's never been to Babylon!" you know you are in for some intelligent fun.  Paula Vogel's The Mineola Twins, which opened last week at Spotlighters, is full of such treasures.  But this play would really suffer without good direction and casting.  And, boy does this play have that to spare!

First-time director Brad J. Ranno (remember this name!) has done a superb job in crafting a well-thought out, interestingly staged piece.  The expertise with which he guides his cast from high camp to sobering reality, as the play vacillates between dream sequences and reality is astounding.  He really has his eye on the whole picture, concentrating not so much on the small details, but on the overall concept.  It has been my sad misfortune to see many a director run amok with a concept driven play, and it is indeed everyone's fortune that Mr. Ranno is very skilled in that area. It helps a great deal that he knows the intimate space so well – he has been associated with Spotlighters in many different capacities for years.  He really knows what he is doing, which is not to take away from the cast or production team he has assembled.

As the play takes place over several decades, Ranno has selected songs for the scene changes that not only reflect what is going on onstage, but also sets us up for the time period we are about to see.  This device also helps the audience buy into the whole concept, as we hum along to such ditties as "White Wedding", "Hit the Road, Jack" and "Land of Confusion."  That is an important communion to create, because the play asks a lot of its audience – the titular twins, one 'good' and one 'bad', are played by the same actress, the rest of the company plays peripheral characters, often more than one, and the play's scenes go the full spectrum between straight forward comedy, high camp and deadly (literally) serious.  The scene changes (and one particularly hilarious dream sequence), choreographed by Christian Richards, mirror the action and tone of the scenes perfectly.  Occasionally, the scene changes are a bit long, albeit out of necessity for the one actress to change costumes/characters.  Only a couple of times do they hinder the momentum of the evening, and this is a very small quibble.  The spare setting (designed by Tim Fowler), fantastic lighting (designed by Galen Lande), the time perfect costumes (designed by Holland Berson) and the excellent sound effects (designed by Mr. Ranno), all combine to create a smoothly flowing, almost surreal environment that causes you to pay attention and focus where it is needed.  It is gratifying to see such a complimentary set of talents between director and design team.

Todd Krickler and Loandra Torres are two ensemble members who take on a variety of persona throughout the evening.  They both are to be commended for their focus and commitment.  Karina Ferry (BWW Best Actress of 2006 for her role in And Then There Were None) also plays a variety of roles, but really comes into her own during the play's final scenes as the lover of Myra, and mother to their son.  She plays her scenes with a light touch – not a trace of stereotype – allowing us to see first hand that homosexual relationships are as loving and frustrating as heterosexual ones.  She helps make the point without smacking us with it.

Shane Logue, so wonderful as Lee Harvey Oswald last month in Assassins, plays the sons, Ben and Ken, of the twins.  Like the sisters, the sons are night and day.  But Mr. Logue has found a real balance between the stereotypes of the liberal and conservative sets, and really embodies the notion that good behavior doesn't make you a good person and bad behavior doesn't make you a bad person.  And considering he is playing young teenagers (Mr. Logue is clearly an adult), his performance is all the more interesting as you forget he is an adult and you can fully buy into the angst and confusion each boy feels on his way to manhood.  Terry Hickey, as Jim, plays an entirely different aspect of manhood, and is absolutely hilarious in his first scenes as he dates the prim and proper Myrna, who leaves him unable to walk comfortably after a session of heavy petting.  Naturally, he is ready to "commit", while she longs to "save herself and a few good recipes" to be the perfect wife.  Even more hilarious, and pleasantly touching, is Hickey's portrayal of guilt and sadness after a night of passionate sex with the sister.  As the decades pass, we see how that action really changed Jim.  How that is is yet another reason to see this play!

Finally, leading lady (ladies) Stephanie Ranno plays the twins Myrna (the good) and Myra (the bad) with an excellent duality.  She manages to create two distinct characters in subtle ways – her voice and carefully chosen facial expressions – and in not so subtle ways – seems Myrna was blessed with a large chest – which she plays with a devious glee.  It is clear from the moment she starts, that Ms. Ranno is having the time of her life, and the fact that she throws herself so willingly into all of the script's demands shows that she has a talent to be reckoned with.  It is the nuances and details of her performance that really make her stand out.  She has carefully made choices that allow us to see the similarities AND differences between the sisters, and very nicely shows (without hitting us over the head) the main theme of the play – that there is a fine, often blurred line between good and evil, despite the absoluteness of the labels.  (To explain more would give away many of the plays delights!)  Ms. Ranno, who was quite excellent in last year's An Inspector Calls, has proven here that she can take on any challenge, and is an actress of which to take note.

The Mineola Twins is that rare play that thoroughly entertains and still resonates hours, days, weeks, later.  Add a thoroughly winning cast and design team, and some inspired direction, and you have the play to see this month in Baltimore!

PHOTOS: Main Page: Todd Krickler, Stephanie Ranno, Loandra Torres.  TOP to BOTTOM: Todd Krickler, Stephanie Ranno, Loandra Torres; Karina Ferry and Stephanie Ranno; Shane Logue and Stephanie Ranno; Terry Hickey and Stephanie Ranno.  Photos by Amy Jones.

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