BWW Reviews: The Lyric Theatre Presents 4 Darkly Comic Tales, OF BATS & SUITS

Everyday life is often reduced to a showdown between the "suits" and the common man struggling to just survive the uphill battle called life. The 4 darkly comic tales in "Of Bats & Suits" at the Lyric Theatre take us into different variations on this theme, showing us that no matter what, living life to the fullest is the only way to be truly happy.

PETTY THEFT
written by Rod McFadden, directed by Ken MacFarlane
A pair of young executives, Stu (Cody Roberts) and Mike (Marco Garcia-Ballare) steal a purse on a drunken whim. When police and do-gooders give chase, the thieves duck into an alley where they struggle with their impulsive decision. Even more startling is what they find in the purse and then can't decide how to handle it. Mike takes off to get care for his sprained ankle, and Stu is then confronted by the homeless Abbott (Drew Fitzsimmons in another transcendent character role) living in his box house in the alley. There is a give and take among all three men, each sharing their wisdom as well as their possessions with each other. The men in suits are challenged by the homeless man who proves to be the smartest one of all.

MAN VERSUS SUIT
written by Steve DiUbaldo, directed by Abby Pierce
A teacher named Montgomery (Tomas Nieboer) loses his job, his house, his dog, his cat, his fish and his wife. Vexed and desperate, he appeals to the Suits (Gage Derringer and Whitney Montgomery) for a solution to his problems. But can the Waffle King really have any kind of answer for him? Or the woman in the unemployment agency? Eventually he takes off for New York and discovers that the struggle is the process and he true calling is to be an anti-suit guy on the street, protesting to have a voice that matters.

THE LAST TWO PEOPLE ON THE PLATFORM
written by Allison Volk, directed by Emily Caldwell
This short play reminded me of a Twilight Zone episode; very well written with a symbolic message for living life outside the box. Two characters, the man (Cody Kearsley) and the woman (Kaitlin Humphries) find themselves trapped on a platform, saying lines in a play discussing life, the universe, and the best way to play 'hide and seek' when there is nowhere to hide. Escape seems to be the only answer, but as it does for most people in life, fear and confusion keep them stuck in limbo.

INTO THE BAT CAVE
written and directed by Craig Jessen
Bruce (Ron Talkington), an adoptive father by day and masked vigilante by night, must face his most challenging foe yet: a visit from Child Protective Services (Todd-Christian Elliott) to investigate his cave. April Grace Lowe provides lots of sexy flare as Selina. Kudos to Angela Ryskiewicz as Richard, a takeoff on Robin, who shines in the role as does Ken MacFarlane as Alfred the Butler who seems to consider poisoning as a solution to the intrusion.

OF BATS AND SUITS, 4 Darkly Comic Tales

February 16 to March 9, 2013 with performances on Fri/Sat at 8:30pm, Sunday at 2pm.

Lyric Theatre - 520 N. La Brea, Los Angeles, CA 90036

http://www.lyrictheatrela.com

Arrive early to find street parking. Be careful in the surrounding neighborhood which is permit parking only and stick to parking on La Brea.

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