 Photo: Will van Overbeek In theater, as in life, who has time to clean anyway? Sara Ruhl’s Pulitzer Prize finalist thankfully makes its way to ZACH Theatre’s Whisenhunt Stage, giving us an evening of drama, insight and plenty of laugh-out-loud comedy. The Clean House is a story of betrayal, redemption and sisterhood, switching from hilarious to heartbreaking at a moment’s notice, and features plenty of twists (especially in its second act) to keep the audience on their toes.
The play features Lauren Lane, the Los Angeles Critics’ Circle award-winning actress, most famously known for her role as C.C. Babcock on the hit '90s TV sitcom “The Nanny,” and ZACH Theatre’s own production of The Vagina Monologues. Here, Lane (whose character is also named Lane) plays a successful doctor. Lane (the doctor) is a stoic, stern, and arrogant woman who worries that her maid Matilde, played by newcomer Smaranda Ciceu, may no longer be cleaning the house. And Lane might be on to something. For Matilde, the daughter of two Brazilian comedians, is always in search of her perfect joke, and therefore has no time for cleaning. Lane’s sister, Virginia, played by ACOT and Critics’ Table award-winner Barbara Chisolm, is a compulsive neat freak, and just can’t beat the rush of cleaning a house, and decides to help Matilde out. Things come to a head, but all of the problems soon become overshadowed by the rumors that lurk beneath the surface involving Lane’s husband Charles, played by ZACH regular Tom Green, and the woman he met while performing a mastectomy, Ana, played by Venezuelan theater and dance star Alicia Kaplan. The drama that follows is full of laughter, tears, and plenty of surprises.
 Photo: Will van Overbeek
Dr. Lane may start off as cold and distant, but as the play progresses, Lauren Lane brings a real sense of loss and sorrow to the role. Amid the comedy, as Lane’s tears fall the audience cries right along with her. The pain she feels as she makes each of the complex, but important, decisions she is forced to deal with is palpable. Despite the seriousness of the role, her pragmatism leads to some of the funniest lines in the play. The confrontations between the laissez-faire attitudes of characters like Ana or Matilde, and the level-headed, logical attitude of Lane foster some truly hilarious moments. Many of her facial expressions alone are priceless.
The character Virginia is a laugh riot from start to finish, and Chisolm doesn’t waste a second of her time on stage. Every smile, every phrase, every movement she makes leaves the audience in stitches. There is hardly a moment she’s on stage when she doesn’t steal the spotlight. Even in some of the most tense and emotionally-charged scenes, she’s able to provoke plenty of laughs.
The Clean House deals with very serious subjects, such as adultery, cancer, and death, but it never takes itself too seriously. Even as Matilde speaks of her parents’ death, she speaks in such an absurdly matter-of-fact way that even death becomes awkwardly humorous instead of saddening.
Though not especially vulgar, we wouldn’t suggest this play for younger children, mostly because most of the play’s punch revolves around themes beyond the scope of understanding for someone under 16. But there is nothing in the play that is inappropriate for a teenager, although they should be forewarned there are a few f- and s-bombs strewn about.
For anyone looking for a deep, intelligent comedy that tackles the cruelties of life, but always with a smile, The Clean House delivers masterfully on all fronts. Splendid performances paired with great source material make for quite a pleasant evening of theater, though don’t be surprised if you leave with a broken heart and a busted gut.
The Clean House is playing Wed-Sun through August 10 at ZACH’s Whisenhunt Stage, just off South Lamar on Toomey Road. Ticket prices vary (only $15 on Wednesdays!) and are available through ZACH’s website . |
