Review: Tragic and Twisted SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER at Schmeater

Tennessee Williams' "Suddenly Last Summer", currently performing at Theater Schmeater, is not often produced, but why? Maybe because it's a one-act or maybe because it feels like it lacks an ending or maybe because it's even a little too dark and twisted for fans of Williams. Whatever the case, Schmeater's production manages to take on this dark journey and thanks to some committed and focused performances, make it seethe with power and intrigue.

It's the retelling of this dark tale that is the crux of the conflict as wealthy Mrs. Venable (Julie Jamieson) invites Dr. Cukrowicz (Jaryl Draper) to her home to tend to her niece Catherine (Lauryn Rilla Hochberg). Catherine has the facts of Mrs. Venable's son's recent death buried in her broken subconscious and Mrs. Venable either wants the Doctor to find out the truth through a liberal dose of drugs or bury them forever through a lobotomy. What unfolds is a symbolic journey that thinly veils the gruesome facts.

I won't go into the circumstances here as I don't want to gross anyone out but suffice to say that the reveal is not for the squeamish. A potential reason that the show is often overlooked. Sure it had a film version but this venture into the dark recesses of Williams' mind and possibly his own past goes beyond distasteful and into "yikes" and so it doesn't get on stage that much. But director Doug Staley doesn't shy away from it and keeps this wordy piece clipping along and building beautifully to its macabre end.

The 90-minute piece is practically two long monologues for Jamieson and Hochberg with a smattering of other dialog from the rest of the ensemble thrown in for good measure and so it's good that the two leads seem more than up to the task. Jamieson takes on this no nonsense matriarch with aplomb and creates a character that is difficult to take your eyes off. She hobbles about the stage with an assuredness that translates to "everyone just get out of the way and hold on". And Hochberg's descent into the darker and darker bits of the story is a superb journey of a broken character. What starts as an eccentric character quickly devolves into a truly fractured psyche as the details come to light and you can practically feel why she's retreated so far into her own mind and madness. The rest of the ensemble are wonderful and do a fine job with what little they're given but really they're just on hand to verbalize and display the horror the audience is feeling.

"Suddenly Last Summer" is not an easy piece. It's not a happy, toe tapping musical or lighthearted comedy and definitely not family fare. But for those who can handle the more grisly moments in life and who are a fan of Williams' rich dialog then this could be right up your alley and so with my three letter rating system I give this a chilling YAY. Just be prepared to be a bit messed up afterwards.

"Suddenly Last Summer" performs at Theater Schmeater through October 10th. For tickets or information visit them online at www.schmeater.org.

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