By Amy Lyons
Audiences at the NoHo Actors’ Studio are currently being whisked away to a comfy back porch in New England where three women clink scotch glasses on a sunny Sunday morning, banning together to chase away the blues of one member of their tribe whose present life situation calls for urgent action. The troubled, twenty-something anti-hero of Theresa Rebek’s compelling play, Sunday on the Rocks, is Elly (Susan Han), a tough-as-nails motherless woman, whose brassy sarcasm and gritty wit have helped her cope, while also stunting her growth.
When the poignant play opens, Elly has arrived at one of those inevitable crossroads where a life-altering decision must be made, namely, whether or not to abort a pregnancy. It’s clear that though she’s a full-fledged survivor, our wise-cracking heroine has stumbled into a situation where emotional toughness and feigned fearlessness will not save the day. Enter her female support system, Gayle (Judy Ben-Asher) and Jen (Pamela Rooney), both of whom live with Elly because they like inhabiting a house where the rent “is so cheap.” As the conversation unfolds, we find out none of the women wants to get a “real job” or otherwise face the adult world. So, what do they do? On this particular Sunday, they start drinking as the sun comes up. Their one common wish is that the responsible housemate of the group, Jessica (Stacey Miller), doesn’t come home and break up their booze-fest with one of her self-righteous lectures on life.
The women stagger their way through the morning, screening phone calls from various dudes and sharing funny stories about sex and workplace weirdness. When they move the cocktail hour inside, snack food begins to litter the floor, karaoke performances anchor the action, and, yes, the Ouija board comes out. Every so often a not-so-funny story sneaks into the party, supplying moments of female bonding that touch the heart without traversing emotionally manipulative territory. When Jessica finally arrives home, we begin to see that she is the glue of this dysfunctional family, but that her power to hold things together at all costs is ultimately her biggest flaw.
The entertainment value of this show is so high, that it’s hard to point out any flaws. Aside from a few awkward monologues where characters break the fourth-wall, this is a joyous theatrical chick-flick for women who are tired of cookie-cutter physical stereotypes and sickeningly perfect hairstyles.
The acting in this production is as good as Rebek’s smart writing. Han’s authentic Boston accent, paired with her perfectly portrayed rage, packs an appropriately startling punch. Her acting chops allow her to gain full access to Elly’s deeply broken heart. The most emotionally charged moments come at the hands of Han and Miller, while Ben-Asher and Rooney are adept at supplying comic relief.
Bring a sense of humor and a few tissues to the NoHo Actors’ Studio and get ready to while away a spectacular Sunday.
Through August 23 at NoHo Actors’ Studio. For more information, call (818)309-9439.
Amy Lyons is a professional freelance journalist, theatre critic and playwright, with a degree in Theatre Arts and English from UMass, Boston. Her articles, theatre reviews and photos regularly appear in numerous publications, including Beverly Press, Valley Life Magazine and The Record Collector News. Amy also serves as a script reader for Reliant Pictures. She can be reached at amykly@yahoo.com.
