BWW Reviews: HURLYBURLY Tackles 80’s Hollywood at The Ringwald Theatre

I have never stepped foot into The Ringwald Theatre and on top of that I have admittedly never heard about the play/movie Hurlyburly. However, when I received an invitation to see the show I whole heartedly obliged. Considering that I have never seen the movie or any other production of this play, I really wasn't sure what to expect. Typically, I have some sort of background of the at least the synopsis, but with this show/theatre I really had nothing to go off of, so it was a completely new experience for me.

Hurlyburly, is a riveting drama that focuses on the intersecting lives of several low-to-mid-level Hollywood players in the 1980s. Fueled by massive amounts of drugs, the characters dive nose-deep in that decadent, perverted, cocaine culture as they pursue a sex-crazed, drug-addled vision of the American Dream.

After seeing the show, I was left feeling sort of confused about the message that was trying to be communicated, but after digesting what I had just saw for three hours, yes that's right it was THREE hours long, the next morning I came to realize that basically that was how I was supposed to feel leaving the show. The actual meaning of the word ‘Hurlyburly' is ‘noisy confusion' so somehow being confused I think was the correct initial reaction. The story starts out crazy and ends the same way. For a large part of the play I kept wondering what we were waiting for, or what the point was, and unfortunately you never really get that. In one of the final scenes the main character Eddie asks the question ‘How does it pertain to me?' and I have to say I was wondering the same thing. The play ends without any real resolve for the characters you are just left with the utter confusion that unveils itself over the three long hours.

Although I did not care for the script that is not to say that the acting was not amazing. Hurlyburly features an all-star cast including Stephen Blackwell, Joel Mitchell, Jon Ager, Charles Reynolds, Cassandra McCarthy, Jamie Warrow, and Ashley Shamoon. The production is directed by Joe Bailey with Assistant Direction by Matthew Turner Shelton.

The actors were insanely intense and took on a gigantic script. Eddie, played by Stephen Blackwell, wore me out from just watching his portrayal of this character. He always seemed to be screaming his lines because of the intensity of Eddie's frustration. The rest of the cast was equally as talented in unraveling the sometimes insane intensity that each character seemed to have in this play.

The set design by Anthony Karpinski was very creative, considering the size of The Ringwald Theatre, Karpinski did a great job of taking the small stage and transforming it into a 1980's bachelor pad. The details were impeccable right down to the Phil Collins record next to the tape deck/record player combined stereo, or the cordless phone that was bigger than most laptops today.

Even though, my first show at The Ringwald Theatre was not the best experience, it was in no part the fault of the production. I basically just didn't care for this particular story, however I am anxious to see what show the Who Wants Cake? Production Company will take on next. The show was long and confusing but still worth seeing. I don't know that I would categorize it as a "must see", but if you want to experience great acting with a not so great script I would say to make the trip. Regardless of its flaws it will leave you questioning life and how people are inter-connected in this crazy world.

Hurlyburly plays Friday - Mondays through April 26th. Tickets for are $20.00 on Friday and Saturday nights at 8PM, $15.00 for Sunday matinees at 3PM and Monday 8PM performances are HALF OFF normal ticket price at $10.00 a ticket.

Reservations may be made by phone at 248-545-5545 or online at www.whowantscaketheatre.com.

 

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