Dysnomia

The Lounge Theatre

Reviewed by Jose Ruiz

Dysnomia, a World Premiere comedy began a limited run at the Lounge Theatre but if opening night is any indication of the audience response this play could have much more than a limited run. The story is the kind that sneaks up on you. It begins as a low key narrative that shows humdrum problems faced by two couples and then POW! It grabs you by the throat and shakes you furiously refusing to let go until the very last word is uttered. It is a story about words. Mary has a good job; she has sweet 10 year old daughter, a rebellious 15 year old son, a hard working husband and a strange feeling in the throat that she cannot identify. Try as she might, she can’t seem to find a word that will accurately describe her empty, unfulfilled state.
Her best friend Carol is a perky, slightly tipsy married woman who is certain that her husband, Scott, is having an affair in Chicago. She has no proof but is determined to keep searching until something shows up.   Carol is Scott’s second wife and there is a 22 year old daughter from his previous marriage who is in school, has reasonably cordial relations with Carol and is an open lesbian attending Smith college. Samantha is visiting her father this Thanksgiving and everyone is meeting at Mary’s for the traditional meal.	Jessie Warner - Heidi Sulzman
Author Marja-Lewis Ryan (who also plays Samantha) knows a thing or two about words. Her dialogues are crisp, intelligent, direct and biting and she has created characters that actually make you care for them. When you hear them speak you almost know what they are going to say because you may know people like them – but there is something a little different and you can’t seem to put your finger on it.   At dinner, Mary and Samantha talk and discuss a little about the gay issue and how Samantha has dealt with it. Samantha also tells Mary that when someone has a problem it’s not really going to be solved until the person can find the right word to describe it and identify it. Once it’s labeled then it can be dealt with. This starts Mary thinking about the source of her unhappiness. When she tries to discuss it with her husband he is really not that interested and it is not long after that when Mary finally identifies the reason for her unhappiness. Imagine a hand grenade going off in your kitchen. That was the reaction when Mary announced to everyone why she has been unhappy all these years and what she is going to do about it. Her husband leaves her, her son John gets into worse troubles at school and Carol decides that drinking more will help Mary solve the problem.
The conflict escalates, Mary’s children decide to move in with their father and soon Mary is alone, lonely and wondering about her life. At the next Thanksgiving, Carol and Samantha visit a much different Mary whose life has changed 180 degrees. Samantha tells Mary that living with a lie is like having a lump in the throat that grows larger as the lie spreads. Once the truth is out, the lump begins to dissipate and eventually things may go back to normal. Samantha also shares this with John who seems to communicate with her better than with anyone else.	Isabella Palmieri - Heidi Sulzman - Ryan Stathos
As the story progresses, it becomes clear that a greater question being addressed here is one that has been faced by people for hundreds of years. Is it better to live a lie and try to maintain a semblance of normalcy to preserve a sense of family to keep things going while suffering internal anguish and torment or is it better to be open and expose a truth risking the loss of everything that is dear and close even though it may relieve internal anguish?  As Mary struggles with this question, we can only wonder if and how we would deal with a similar situation and if the results might be as shattering as those faced by her. But like most stories there is a hint of resolution in the end when the play closes with John telling his mother, Mary, “Sorry about the throat.” While it may not seem like the ultimate closing line, it is a definite first step in beginning to heal the infinite chasm that Mary’s revelation created. The excellent ensemble includes Heidi Sulzman as Mary, Jessie Warner as Carol, Trevor H. Olsen as Henry. Monroe Makowsky as Scott, Ryan Stathos as John and Isabella Palmieri as Jodi. Anthoni Frisina directs.  Produced by Jessie Warner, Heidi Sulzman and Marja-Lewis Ryan in Association with Theatre of Note. The play runs through August 21, 2011. Reservations at: 323-960-7862 or at www.plays411.com/dysnomia. Pick of the week Comments? Write to us at: Letters@ReviewPlays.Com