At its slippery core, David Rabe’s “Hurlyburly” is a 3 1/2-hour dramatic study of misogyny in a self-serving Hollywood milieu. And therein lies the challenge in reviving this 1984 play today. The acting has to be sufficiently strong (and the directing sufficiently tight) to make us willing to spend three full acts in the company of an eternally adolescent crowd of drugged-out white American males, even as they abuse and tyrannize the “whores,” “bimbos” and female “CARE packages” that have the misfortune to wander into their world for the purposes of male sexual and ego gratification.
Amazingly enough (given the theme and the sexual politics), this is an eternally hip piece of slice-o’-modern-life writing that has long attracted celebrity actors. Aside from the bevy of Hollywood stars smoking and snorting their way through the recently released movie version of Rabe’s portrait of ’80s excesses, the first off-Broadway production of “Hurlyburly” was directed by Mike Nichols, no less, and featured William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Harvey Keitel and Christopher Walken.
The Strawdog Theatre Company cannot, of course, offer such star power. But assuming you can take the torrents of abuse and self-loathing flying from the stage in endlessly self-reflective monologues, Richard Shavzin’s impressive production certainly offers enough powerful acting to fix your eyes entirely on the nasty and lengthy personal business at hand.
A careful directorial hand is very visible here. One of the main appeals of “Hurlyburly” is Rabe’s astonishingly adroit use of language. If allowed to run out of control in the hands of intense actors overcome by the joy of juicy roles, “Hurlyburly” is sheer hell. Shavzin wisely ensures that never happens.
There’s a certain irony that the two best performances here are from women, playing the drama’s most obvious victims. As Bonnie, Stephanie Manglaras barrels her way through this dismal character’s flustered monologues with such staggering intensity and verisimilitude that we find ourselves caring deeply about a woman who brings her kid along on her varied sexual encounters with strangers. And as vacuous, drifting Donna, Stacy Parker avoids the obvious cliches and offers real poignancy.
On the male side of the great divide, one finds intense Chicago-style acting of a more familiar and predictable brand, but it’s extremely competent nonetheless. As the most obviously unhinged dude, Bart Petty has flashes of excellence as nasty Phil, and there’s strong support from both Tim Curtis and Mike Dailey.
As the main protagonist, Eddie, the hard-working and honest Michael Dobbs has a harder task. He’s not entirely successful in making us care about his character’s ultimate unraveling, but that’s almost impossible.
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`Hurlyburly”
When: Through April 17
Where: Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway
Phone: 773-528-9696
