THE PLAY: A rich matriarch demands that her heirs meet her mandates in order to get their part of the estate.

 

THE PRODUCTION: The concept of a greedy group jockeying for the family fortune isn’t new and this world premiere by Philip Ventrella brings little original to the scenario. His intensions aren’t clear: Is this a comedy? If so, there’s little humor to mitigate the meanness. If it’s supposed to be serious, the drama is lacking. There’s no subtlety to the interactions and the one-dimensional characters are relentlessly spiteful. It’s not helped by the uneven, sometimes uncomfortable performances. Overall, the men fare better than the women, but any energy the cast musters drops with grandmother Pat Walker’s stiff, slow delivery. Director Ann Davis’s sometimes awkward staging and slow pacing don’t add any professional polish. Kent Walker’s set is a mismatch of styles and textures that belies the character’s richness. Running time: 1:48

 

THE POINT: The production provides little reason to like this dysfunctional family or the play.

 

(1 / 5)

 

At CAT Theatre thru 6/3