Majestic Theater, West Springfield, MA
through December 10, 2017
by Konrad Rogowski
 |
| Photo by Lee Chambers |
The Majestic Theater’s “Crimes Of The Heart” delivers a
performance of comic chaos as the three Magrath sisters – Babe, Lenny, and Meg
– attempt to resolve not only their personal crises, but also their very public
dilemmas. These trials and tribulations range from insecurity, guilt and
sibling jealousies, to infidelity, home wrecking and attempted murder. All
elements are makings of a fine family reunion.
Set in a small town in the deep South in the 1970’s, the
sisters’ miss-adventures make them the talk of the town, and draw the uninvited
meddling of folks like Chick Boyle, an intrusive and highly opinionated
relative with more than enough to say about each of their circumstances.
Attempting to stabilize their topsy-turvy world are the legal efforts and
simmering romantic inclinations of young attorney, Barnette Lloyd, who,
himself, has some ulterior motives in taking on the defense of sister Babe.
Then, there is the married old flame of another sister, whose presence has
free-spirit Meg aglow. Add to this, two never seen characters who agitate the
sisters’ days and nights from their respective hospital beds: old Grand-daddy,
the family patriarch, hovering between this world and the next; and Babe’s gut
shot hubby, who has unresolved anger control and legal issues galore.
The cast, under the direction of Cate Damon, adeptly carry
off the careful balance of comedy and human drama needed when mixing scenes of
the hilarity of donning ill-fitting pantyhose, and those of the genuine trauma
of abuse. Set designer Greg Trochlil provides a warm and intimate setting for
all these tail-spin tales to be resolved. There are more than enough laughs to
be enjoyed in this story of three sisters learning how to survive crimes of the
heart.
