[NEohioPAL] Review of Cleveland Public Theatre's "The Family Claxon"

[Bob Abelman]

CPT world premiere of ‘The Family Claxon’ too much of a good thing 



Bob Abelman

Cleveland Jewish News, The News Herald, The Morning Journal

Member, International Association of Theatre Critics



There’s a sitcom on stage at Cleveland Public Theatre.



Walk into the Gordon Square Theatre for the world premiere of Eric Coble’s “The Family Claxon” and you’ll be greeted by a mindlessly upbeat soundtrack reminiscent of “I Dream of Jeannie” and “Bewitched” theme songs. 



On stage is the same standard-issue TV Land family dwelling found in episodes of “Three’s Company,” “Charles in Charge” and “Harry and the Hendersons.”  It comes complete with a prominent front door through which neighbors can barge in without warning, an open-plan living room through which family members can conduct their comedic business without distraction, and plenty of passageways for well-timed entrances and fast-paced exits. 



The first to enter are the caricature Claxons – the lovable, ne'er-do-well dad, Andrew (Abraham McNeil Adams), the take-charge mom, Evette (Coleen Longshaw), and the troublesome kid, Catie (Hillary Wheelock).



The low concept storyline finds the Claxons preparing the house for a party intended to schmooze the executives of the global corporation that Grandad Claxon (Kayla Gray) founded and grandson Andrew so desperately wants to manage.  



The situation is fraught with ample and predictable opportunities for complication and the hilarious mayhem that will surely follow, courtesy of the colorful neighbors (Victoria Zajac, Ananias J. Dixon, JP Peralta, Maryann Elder, and Olivia Scicolone) who show up at all the most inopportune moments.  



In true sitcom fashion, the banter is littered with punch lines intended to generate the acceptable laugh-per-minute ratio.  The comedy is physical and broad.  And director Craig J. George makes sure that everything is played big and directly at the audience.  The only thing missing is the laugh track.



And that is when you remember that the CPT doesn’t do inanity.



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