Theatergoers get only a bit of the usual [David] Mamet in his contemporary (2005) farce, “Romance,” playing at San Diego Repertory Theatre through May 21. That signature bit, the second scene of Act One, is anti-Semitic, rat-a-tat and scatological. And this from a Jewish New York playwright, now based on the West Coast. Mamet the farceur and word-wielder takes aim at homosexuality, the judicial system, the Roman Catholic Church, child abuse and ” in one hilarious bit in which everyone feels the need to purge through confession ” bestiality. Shades of Edward Albee! In other words, Mamet leaves no stern untoned in order to elicit laughter and provoke thought.
A farce that provokes thought? Not a novel concept in the history of drama, where farces were banned because of content. Mamet’s major theme is peace and humankind’s inability to attain it, particularly where it comes to the Arabs and Israelis. One of his characters, a chiropractor, has a brilliant idea to effect peace by manipulation of the subluxation kind. The chiropractor is on trial for attacking a chiropodist when the play opens, just a few blocks from the United Nations.
Peopling his hilarious send-up are an inattentive, incompetent, allergic, pill-popping judge (Peter Van Norden), the defendant (Steve Lipinsky), his attorney (Steve Gunderson), the prosecuting attorney (Matthew Henerson), the multi-faceted Bailiff (Ruff Yeager), a Doctor (Craig Huisenga) and, in a marvelous leopard-skin turn as the spurned lover of one of the aforementioned, the Rep debut of talented John Altieri, every bit as pampered and petulant as Ptolemy in San Diego Opera’s recent “Julius Caesar in Egypt.”
Sam Woodhouse does a great job pacing and restraining the wacky tone of this all-over-the-map work. In lesser hands it could be disastrous and tedious. Jeannie Galioto’s costumes add much hilarity and so does Nick Fouch’s scenic design, which is fluid and, when called for, colorful. Sound designer Rachel LeVine’s music selections are bang-on busy and her smoke alarm is so real in building intensity that I was ready to find the nearest exit.
Mamet is not for everyone, even when he puts on his supreme farcical nature. Put off by numerous F-words, some theatergoers overheard in the elevator May 4 were not amused. Facing Mamet one must prepare to be delightfully, agonizingly offended.
“Romance” continues through 2 p.m. Sunday, May 21 at San Diego Repertory Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, downtown San Diego. Performances are at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets range from $27 to $42, with discounts for students, teachers and military.
For tickets and information, visit www.sandiegorep.com or call (619) 544-1000.
