Review

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Romance brings ribald disorder to the court

By Maggie Grainger

May 8, 2006

San Diego--As part of its 30^th anniversary season, the San Diego Repertory Theatre company decided to debut David Mamet’s newest comedy, Romance. But don’t let the title fool you. Romance, in the traditional sense of the word, doesn’t play a part in this show at all. But this really shouldn’t come as much of a surprise – Mamet, whose plays include Glengarry Glen Ross and Sexual Perversity in Chicago, isn’t exactly known for his sappy tales of lost love.

Within minutes, the Prosecutor’s questioning is led astray when the court’s pill-popping Judge (Peter Von Norden) decides to interrupt the proceedings to comment on the Peace Conference taking place in the city that very day. From there the show becomes an 80-minute courtroom farce, full of political banter, plot twists and even a little bit of stage combat.

So what exactly is Romance about? To try to describe the plot is like trying to describe an episode of The Simpsons. It’s random and witty and relevant but so complicated that, although it makes sense while you’re watching it, parts of the storyline get lost in translation.

The show does manage to tie together such topics as chiropractics and peace in the Middle East while offending every race and religion in the process. No one is spared in this show, but Mamet’s honest writing makes it impossible not to laugh, even when the characters say such outlandish comments.

In fact, it’s the actors—not the plot—that carry this show. Sure, the material is fun but if it weren’t for the brilliant execution by the show’s seven primary players then there really wouldn’t be much to Romance.

While all of the actors do an outstanding job, two standout performances are delivered by Peter Von Norden as the stoned Judge and John Altieri as Bernard, the Prosecutor’s flamboyant gay lover. Both of these actors command the audience’s attention — Altieri does so in a skin-tight leopard print Speedo — and add true comedic relief. Steve Lipinsky and Steve Gunderson are also excellent as the Defendant and his Defense Attorney respectively, and both navigate one scene in particular, full of racial epithets and slurs, as gracefully as humanly possible.

Rounding out the small cast is Matthew Henerson as the Prosecutor, Ruff Yeager as the Bailiff and Craig Huisenga as the Doctor.

Henerson’s Prosecutor is the perfect mixture of hard-nose lawyer and compassionate lover and one can’t help but feel for him as his personal life and career teeter out of control. Yeager is hilarious as the Bailiff, the Judge’s wingman, and the only one who has the power to restore order to the chaotic courtroom.

Romance is fast-paced and fun. Sets change swiftly, topics bounce quickly, and in the end the audience is taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Love it or hate it, you won’t leave the theatre bored.

“Romance” plays now through May 21 at the Lyceum in Horton Plaza. For tickets and more information, call (619) 544-1000.

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