Cast brings humor to edgy material in ‘Green Whales’

The late, great comedian Richard Pryor peppered his standup routines with foul language and sexually explicit references. Still, even conservative audiences seemed willing to look past the offensive content.

Why? Probably because he was so funny that he made the crass material seem downright profound.

A daring new romantic comedy titled "Green Whales," the latest offering from the Unicorn Theatre, will probably get a pass for the same reason.

While it deals with edgy subject matter – alcoholism and pedophilia – its genuinely funny script and sharp acting make the vexatious elements easier to abide.

This world premiere from playwright Lia Romeo is a co-production of The Unicorn and the University of Missouri-Kansas City theater department, and the contributions from each organization are considerable.

Anna Safar, a UMKC graduate student, plays Karen Wilson, a 38-year-old educator who suffers from a condition called Turner’s syndrome. This genetic malady causes Anna to have the appearance of a 13-year-old. Naturally, this makes her love life a bit problematic.

Anna is visiting her boozy sister Joanna (Vanessa Severo) for their mother’s funeral. Fueled by copious amounts of vodka, Joanna decides to help Anna find a boyfriend. Given that Anna looks so young, Joanna checks the online sex offender registry for possible suitors.

It just so happens that Joanna’s boyfriend, a boorish cop named Ray (Darren Kennedy), has just grilled a suspected pervert named Ian (Dean Vivian) who’d been hanging around a junior high girls’ soccer game.

Joanna figures that Ian might be the right man for Anna. In spite of her initial reluctance, Anna meets up with Ian at a coffee shop and they hit it off. In romantic comedy fashion, Anna lies to Ian, claiming that she’s actually 13 years old.

Plenty of complications arise in this awkward relationship. The same is true for Joanna and Ray. When Joanna suggests the possibility of marriage, Ray goes into panic mode.

Director Cynthia Levin understands comic timing and mounts the play’s action at a pleasing pace, smartly eschewing an intermission. She also elicits strong performances from her capable cast.

Severo comes off best, deftly finding as many laughs from her gestures and reactions as she does from Romeo’s witty dialogue.

Safar imbues Karen with an innocent streak that comes through despite her character’s fierce intelligence. Plus, she seems genuinely smitten with Ian.

Kennedy is funny as the loutish cop, and he and Severo display a pleasing degree of chemistry. Vivian manages to make Ian likable despite his troubling deviance.

The production’s tech values are impressive, especially considering that UMKC students render the work.

Tabitha Pease’s clever scenic design makes efficient use of the Unicorn’s turntable, and Latrice Lovett’s lighting and Renee Garcia’s costumes are also a big plus.

While one could argue that Romeo’s plotting is a bit formulaic, her waggish sense of humor serves to temper the play’s unseemly aspects.

"Green Whales" runs through March 28 at the Unicorn Theatre, 3828 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. For information, call (816) 531-7529 or visit www.unicorntheatre.com.

THEATER NOTES

Eugene O’Neill’s 1947 drama "Moon for the Misbegotten" is the current production at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre.

This artful and imaginative blend of comedy and tragedy was not successful in O’Neill’s time, but has come to be known as a genuine classic.

The play runs through March 14 at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, 3604 Main St, Kansas City, Mo. For tickets, call at (816) 569-3226 or visit www.metkc.org.

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