[NEohioPAL] Review of "Barbecue" at Cleveland Play House

[Bob Abelman via NEohioPAL]

CPT’s ‘Barbecue’ is savory if, at times, a tad under-spiced



Bob Abelman

Cleveland Jewish News, The News Herald, The Morning Journal

Member, International Association of Theatre Critics



 Playwright Robert O’Hara has an affinity for laying bare issues of race, class and culture in America by poking all kinds of audacious fun at them.    



In “Bootycandy,” seen last year at the Cleveland Public Theater, O’Hara explored the stigmatization of homosexuality in African-American culture by presenting it as TV sketch comedy.  And, by doing so, he managed to also call attention to the egregious portrayal of blacks in TV sketch comedy.



In “Barbecue,” which premiered Off-Broadway in 2015 and is currently on stage at the CPT, he showcases similarities in white and black lower-class family dysfunction by having it unfold in the familiar format of the Hollywood domestic comedy.  And, by doing so, he manages to also call attention to the egregious portrayal of the lower class in domcoms.



In both plays, which are loaded with ferociously funny one-liners, the outrageousness sometimes gets the better of O’Hara’s good intentions and his efforts to cover so much ground occasionally hits a bump or two.  “Barbecue” is particularly problematic in that its first act is rubbed with vinegar and char-grilled on an open flame while its second act is slow-cooked and basted with molasses.   



Although this CPT production under Beth Woods’ direction has some difficulty reconciling these inconsistent stylings by being particularly plodding after intermission, it is nonetheless a savory and satisfying offering.





For more of this review, go to www.clevelandjewishnews.com/columnists/.
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