[NEohioPAL] Berko review: POOR LITTLE LULU @ Cleveland Public Theatre

[Roy Berko]

*POOR LITTLE LULU, Theatre of the Absurd at Cleveland Public Theatre*

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association & Cleveland Critics Circle)

POOR LITTLE LULU, Matthew Earnest’s play, which is getting its world
premiere at Cleveland Public Theatre where it  is being produced in
association with The Lunar Stratagem, is a classic Theatre of the Absurd
creation.   The absurd movement, which was at its high during the turbulent
mid-to-late twentieth century, centered on the existential question, “why
do we exist?”  Plays by Edward Albee and Eugene Ionesco put individuals in
absurd situations, where the ridiculousness and horrors of life, and of the
decisions made, were paramount.

Earnest has taken the words of Frank Wedekind, who wrote PANDORA’S BOX
(1904) and EARTH SPIRIT (1895), controversial plays which examined women
under siege, and developed a work that allows for seeing a group of people
who are depraved, selfish and foolish.  People, who clearly are acting out
the meaning of existence.

Placed in a stark white setting, with harsh glaring lights, the work takes
on the look of absurdist art, often letting the viewer figure out what is
being portrayed and its meaning.

The script is as relevant today as it was at the turn of the century, maybe
even more so because of the constant availability of electronic media.
 Vitriolic
conservatism in the present day has broadened the field.  Religious
fanatics, their political spokesmen, and right wing media moguls attack
anyone that doesn’t agree with their narrow views by name calling, verbal,
and litigious assault.  Women, gays, liberals and humanists, among others,
are castigated as the enemy and attacked.

Lulu, in Earnest’s play, is doing what she has been taught to do.  She is a
femme fatale, the only route open to her.  As Earnest, who is also the
play’s director states, “We were interested in her as a blank canvas that
everyone in her life felt free to paint on whenever they liked, even to the
point of renaming her at their pleasure.  Renaming her by calling her names
and alluding to her in vulgar terms.

Earnest paints not only on Lulu, but on the entire stage.  Men are dressed
in revealing women’s underwear doing “womanly activities,” such as moving
furniture, moving daintily through lives, changing characters to fit the
needs of others.  The real is often not presented as real.  Actors change
characters so often that keeping track of who is who becomes an exercise in
futility.

The cast of POOR LITTLE LULU seems to understand their purposes.  Some, of
course, carry out their mission more proficiently than others.  Katie
Nabors (Lulu) moves easily from mood to mood, role to role.   Karl LaMarca,
is cute, effeminate and believable as Alva Schön.  The rest of the cast has
high and low moments, sometime feigning roles that require believability.

Benjamin Gantose’s lighting design and Will Bezek’s set design add to the
absurdity of the production.

*Capsule judgement:  POOR LITTLE LULU is not a play for everyone.  It is
abstract and existentialistic in nature, which makes it a niche production
which will attract those who like the Theatre of the Absurd and enjoy
verbal gymnastics.*

POOR LITTLE LULU runs through March 24.  Be aware that the curtain goes up
at 7 PM.  For tickets call 216-631-2727 or go on line to www.cptonline.org.
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