‘Patrick’ charms
audiences at the Long Beach Playhouse
By
Adam Pringle
Online Forty-Niner
Staff Writer
The
opening night of a stage production often
reveals how well the cast members work
together. Sometimes the players have
that connection and sometimes they don’t.
Fortunately, there was a definite sense of connection and unity among the cast
of the Long Beach Playhouse’s production of John Boruff’s long-running
comedy “The Loud Red Patrick.” The cast generated much chemistry.
“
The Loud Red Patrick” has been a comedy staple since its original Broadway
run in 1956. The story itself is fairly well-worn yet comfortably familiar
and remains witty and charming. The play takes a look at a working class
Irish-American family living in Cleveland in 1912.
Patrick Flannigan (Tom Killam) is a widower who is proud of his four daughters
and the life he has made for himself. He is shocked when he finds out his oldest
daughter Maggie (Kellie Nitkin) wants to abandon her plans for college and
get married. At the same time, his old friend Finnegan (Jesse GrothOlson) moves
in with the family to avoid paying alimony to his ex-wife. This adds even more
stress to Patrick’s life and makes him turn increasingly “loud” and “red,” hence
the play’s title.
Although the story is light in tone and not meant to be analyzed in detail,
it works as a humorous account of how a man who likes order and stability copes
with developments beyond his control. Patrick even holds structured “family
council” meetings complete with recorded minutes and positions such as
chairman and treasurer.
It is ironic he thinks this way considering he is also an open-minded person
who believes in full rights and educational opportunities for women. He is
a firm believer in democracy, but does not hesitate to rule his family with
an iron fist.
As Patrick, Killam could have simply blustered and shouted his way through
the role. Instead, he infused the character with heart and humanity as well
as some charisma. Killam also seemed to connect with the actresses playing
his daughters, who seemed truly delighted just to be on stage. Together, they
generated a sense of genuine warmth and closeness that was very apparent in
the Playhouse’s small theater.
The weakest link in “The Loud Red Patrick” was Matt Landig’s
performance as Ralph Penrose, Maggie’s suitor. It is understandable he
wanted to make the character nervous, but his actions came across forced instead
of natural.
Despite his best efforts, his performance as Ralph didn’t ring true.
GrothOlson’s performance as the outlandish Finnegan was also over the
top, but that was his intention. He truly seemed to relish the opportunity
to talk in an exaggerated Irish accent straight out of a Lucky Charms commercial
while energetically moving all over the stage and tripping on furniture. GrothOlson’s
combination of physical comedy and overacting that reached William Shatner-esque
heights worked to the production’s advantage. Simply put, his performance
was memorable and effective because he did not take himself too seriously in
the role.
The production’s set design was minimal, but it perfectly reflected the
show’s small-scale charm and lack of pretentiousness. There were only
a few props on the small stage area in the middle of the theater, and the sole
backdrop was a simple yet detailed staircase with a nearby closet door and
kitchen entrance. Despite the lack of furnishings, this economical set added
to the show’s down-to-earth appeal. All the props onstage served a purpose
in the show, nothing was wasted.
This production of “The Loud Red Patrick” could have easily been
dull and uninspired, but it had a cast who cared. The players approached their
roles with energy and enthusiasm. They really seemed to connect with each other
as a group even during their first performance. This Long Beach Playhouse performance
was a visible example of how actors who have a passion for their craft can
help make any production better.
“
The Loud Red Patrick” will be running through Dec. 17 at the Long Beach
Playhouse. Ticket information is available by calling (562) 494-1014
or visiting http://www.lbph.com.
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