Review: Reality Mirrors Fiction in HILLARY & MONICA - A Nice Work-In-Progress of a Play On a Work-in-Progress

HILLARY & MONICA/by Victor Bardack & Edward Michael Bell/directed by Joel Zwick/Odyssey Theatre/thru June 12, 2016

Clever workshop presentation of the world premiere of playwrights Victor Bardack & Edward Michael Bell's HILLARY & MONICA. Though HILLARY & MONICA contains lots of witty elements still to be tweaked and fleshed out, the winning and steady component that needs no changing or improving's the central, charismatic performance of Barry Pearl as playwright Ben Rose. Pearl masters the intricate verbiage of Ben's encyclopedia of film noir trivia, as well as, the periodic kvetching of his life's ups and downs. Pearl commands the stage in Ben's descriptive scene narrations and in his rantings and ravings with his co-conspirators.

Rick Pasqualone's unfortunately saddled with the inexplicable character of Ben's writing partner Pete Raffelo who suddenly reappears after going MIA for over a year. Pete still hasn't conquered his gambling addiction or his habit of bedding every woman he meets, including Ben's girlfriends, current or ex. Pete's also seriously sick with something baffling. But Pete needs to begin writing again with Ben to complete, well, actually start a sellable script on Hillary Clinton and Monica Lewinsky (hence the play's title).

As Ben's current girlfriend Tiffany Kiley, Rena Strober's quite believable as Ben's unfulfilled lover, longing for and hooking up with Peter on the side.

Phil Morris inhabits his role of slick lawyer Greg Goldfarb, one who's in debt to Pete (Or is it the other way around?) Pete has called in a favor for Greg to drop by and provide legal advice on which elements of the real Hillary and Monica could actually get Ben and Pete sued. Very interesting discussion on what real-life info on Hillary and Monica that's sue-able or not.

Doorman Dragos' voice (Brain Kale) over the intercom reminds of the Carlton the doorman bit from "Rhoda" (voiced by Lorenzo Music), but sadly does not evoke the same laughing results.

Joel Zwick, with an impressive directing resume longer than most people's arms, smartly directs his game cast milking whatever available laughs exist.

Kudos to scenic designer J R Bruce for Ben's very detailed New York apartment, including framed movie posters hung on the walls (The Maltese Falcon, The Killers, Gilda, Casablanca).

www.plays411.com/hillary

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