For Darkness' Sake — Theatre 68's 'Crumble'

Anchored by impressive technical design, Shelly Callaghan's surreal play Crumble (Lay Me Down Justin Timberlake) once again arises to disturbing life at Los Angeles' 68 Cent Crew Theatre Company. Like a meth-addled nightmare, Crumble shows the worst of what grief can do to an already dysfunctional family. Callaghan's is a world where the only (temporary) solace comes from pop icons crawling out of the walls. Where a failed murder-suicide attempt on Christmas morning actually mends the torn familial bonds. Find that absurd? non sequitur? contradictory to reality? Good, that's the point: to leave the audience haunted, uncomfortable, embroiled in darkness for no discernible reason. Théâtre de la Cruauté at its best.

It's been a year since Dad "accidentally" died while trying to adjust Christmas decorations. Mom (Heidi Rhodes) has retreated into the kitchen, endlessly preparing dishes fit for a reality TV cooking show. Daughter Janice (Shelly Hacco) has spiraled into a suicidal abyss, her new-found sadist tendencies encouraged by psychotic visions of Justin Timberlake (Bill Doherty, Jr.). Mom's sister, Barbara (Julianna Bolles-Morrison), tried her best to psychoanalyze and intervene, though she's more accustomed to relating to her 57 cats. All the while, the disembodied, lascivious spirit of their Apartment (Stephen Kline) pontificates about the good ol' days, complaining about — and berating the family for — his rapidly deteriorating condition.

Directed by Ronnie Marmo, 68 Cent's cast tackles the bizarre text with earnestness, yet the performances vary between uneven and unmotivated. The only erraticism I could discern from Rhodes's grieving mother was when she struggled to spit out her lines describing the multi-ingredient dishes. Hacco could pass as a disaffected teen, yet the text called for a prepubescent character... didn't quite get that from Ms. Hacco's strident portrayal. A passionate Kline was the cast's standout, though vociferously monotone during much of his delivery. I'd expect the living embodiment of a crumbling, hyperemotional residence to have a variety of sounds and tones.

The technical aspects of 68 Cent's offering, however, are quite stunning. Set/sound designer Danny Cistone converted 68's black box into an amazing dreamscape with multiple levels, see-through walls, and exploded, off-angle decor. That, with Cistone's eery blend of horror compositions, and Matt Richter's effective light design, did the heavy lifting to achieve Crumble's execrably grim tone. 'Twas a shame such a marvelous canvas wasn't utilized by stronger performances.

Crumble (Lay Me Down Justin Timberlake) continues at Theatre 68 until May 18. Get your tix here, or by calling (323) 960-5068.



LA theater reviews by LA Theater Critic.