Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Community Players first show of their 98th season is the hilarious comedy “Social Security” by Andrew Bergman. The domestic tranquility of David and Barbara Kahn, a couple of married art dealers is shattered by Barbara’s house wife sister, Trudy and her uptight CPA husband, Martin. They arrive on the scene to leave their cantankerous mother, Sophie with them so they can save their daughter from living a sexually deviant life style. The comic sparks really fly when the mother hits it off with an elderly French artist friend of the couple. Director James Sulannowski casts these roles splendidly and elicits strong performances from his six member cast.
James blocks the show beautifully and elicits topnotch performances from his six cast members. Mark E. Lima commands the stage as David. He delivers his punch lines splendidly. Mark also has marvelous facial expressions and terrific interactions with his cast mates. Joyce Leven plays the long suffering wife who must now deal with her difficult mother living with them. Her slow burns and agitation scenes with the mother are wonderful to behold. Mark and Joyce’s funniest moment occurs with the dance behind the sofa, which leads to a sexual encounter at 1:30 in the afternoon. There is much laughter at the antics in this scene. Her interactions with her sister and mother are priceless. Excellent work from these two strong leads.
The obnoxious overbearing couple of Martin and Trudy is well played by David Mann and JoAnn Bromley. JoAnn has many comic moments along the way especially in the argument scene with Martin and her scene when she upset she is the only one not having sex. JoAnn’s facial expressions are topnotch, too. David plays the hen pecked husband, Martin who gives into every one of her whims but later on turns the tables on her in the second act. His funniest line is the menagerie line when he actually means menage a trois.
Janette Gregorian is the biggest scene stealer in the show as the cranky, Sophie. However she transforms due to meeting the man of her dreams. Janette first enters with a walker and scares the crap out of David and Barbara. Her one liners and constant complaining are comic moments to enjoy and savor. Also Janette’s underwear scene is hilarious and Sophie finally spills the beans about what happened to her errant granddaughter. Lee Hakeem plays elderly art dealer, Maurice Koenig. He gets many laughs when he gets thrown into a closet. Lee charms not only Sophie but the whole audience in this role. So for a fun filled show, be sure to catch “Social Security” at Community Players. I have many pleasant memories of directing this show in the past in 2005, 2010 and 2011.
SOCIAL SECURITY (14 to 23 September)
Community Players Jenks Jr High Auditorium, 350 Division St, Pawtucket, RI
1(401)726-6860 or www.thecommunityplayers.net
