Reviews for The Claw
1. Accessibly Live
June 8, 2015 By Rich Borowy
NEWS AND REVIEWS
Theatre West continues with the second of a pair of plays that are part of the theater’s Writers In Rep program with Chris DiGiovanni’s THE CLAW, an amusing comedy about a doctor in training’s goal in completing her research through the aid of a wealthy benefactor, providing she completes a unique request from a relative to revive their father figure who encountered a horrible demise.
Lindsey Jean Roetzel plays Dr. Felicity Merriweather. She is a medical student who was working on a research project, but ended her project due to funding cuts. In order to continue her undertaking, she seeks the aid of Christian Dearfield (Adam Langsam), a man of financial means. Upon making a visit to his mansion on Manhattan’s tawny east side, she encounters a collection of rather unusual characters, starting with the valet Riccardo (Joe Nassi) that is in charge of, among other duties, feeding a stay cat that lingers around the place. She eventually meets up with Christian, making her request for the research. But Christian is in interaction with his cousin Hugo Bridge (Elliot Davis), who is in a different capacity than his relation. He may not be in the same financial status than his cousin, but does drive an inquiry. It seems that his father, while on an expedition in a remote jungle area located within the far reigns of Earth, had a losing battle with a giant eagle meeting his fate. The father’s remains were preserved, along with the bird’s claw that held on to him, in a state of suspended animation kept in a clear sealed box stashed away in a freestanding closet in the library of the home. She will receive her funding if she is to clone the father from what’s left of him. Things begin to become complex when Hugo seeks the desire of Felicity, while Christian is doing the same. Adding insult to injury, the claw along with the father’s remains is stolen. Police detective Earline Woodbine (Arden Teresa Lewis) is hot on the case. Who would steal this family heirloom and why? Will Felicity ever clone Hugo’s father to the same state as he was before? And what about the stray cat? Is it indeed an actual cat (as played by Joe Filippone), or does this puss has something to do behind the mystery of their father’s death, or even the father himself?
This play making its world premier at Theatre West, is a fast paced comical farce, developed in the same tradition as to a British comedy of the same nature, complete with characters running madly to and fro if not disappearing and reappearing through doorways, along with characters that are wacky, eclectic, and have personality. The personality may be of an absurd kind, but is appearing nevertheless! (Unlike those noted British farces, there are no mistaken identities portrayed, and nobody is really scantily clad!) The dialogue is full of wit and witticism, the action maneuvers in a swift velocity, and the characters are portrayed as ludicrous and delirious. These elements make this play as one big quip, a notion proving that newly created stage farces can still hold on as their own! The ensemble of players appearing fit their roles in a precise manner, often keeping up with each other in terms of pacing and speed! Thanks to Linda Rand’s stage direction, they hold that ability to keep things going, in spite of the fact that its absurdity runs rather high. And that’s a good conceit to note.
In addition to the acting depicted on stage, Nicholas Acciani set design shows off the room where all the action takes place. And special attention goes to Mason Trager for the design and creation of the claw; perhaps the real star of the show that isn’t human and doesn’t speak–or speak dialogue anyway!
THE CLAW is indeed a one of a kind comedy that is cartoonish without being droll or annoying. It has cleverness, a terrific climatic peak, and even sports a happy ending! That’s all one needs in this type of theater humor.
2. Noho Arts District:
3. Toluca Times:
http://tolucantimes.info/theatre_review/sharp-humor-of-the-claw-captivates-audiences/
THE CLAW
Theatre West
Reviewed by Carol Kaufman Segal
One important mission of Theatre West is featuring new original plays written by members of the company who are Writers-In-Rep. It is always an interesting experience to see these plays performed on the stage by the actors who are also members of the company. The Claw, written by Christine DeGiovanni, is no exception.
Presented as a comedy, mystery, romance, I would have to say that even though it truly is all three of those, it is mainly a comedy. The premise of the plot itself is comedic!
The time is the present set in the library of a luxurious Mansion (set design by Nicholas Acciani) owned by the very wealthy Christian Dearfield (Adam Langsam). We find Dr. Felicity Merriweather (Lindsey Jean Roetzel) waiting for her appointment with Christian’s cousin, Hugo Bridge (Elliott Davis) who is abiding there since his own home burned in a fire.
Dr. Merriweather is an attractive and gifted student of science and Hugo is in love with her. But his purpose in arranging this appointment is that he needs her assistance to clone his father. Due to an accident while he and his father were hunting in a remote jungle, it seems that his father was ripped apart by a humungous bird. Hugo feels responsible and wants to bring him back.
Locked up in a closet in the library are frozen remains of the bird (the claw) and what seem to be tissue samples of Hugo’s father. But before Hugo arrives at the mansion to meet with Dr. Merriweather, Christian arrives first and tries to entice her with all his wealth to take an interest in him as he puts Hugo down.
Christian’s butler Riccardo (Joe Nassi) meanwhile has taken in a stray cat (Joe Filippone) that comes out purring periodically but seems to avoid ever being seen by anyone in the house. When Christian hears the cat, he insists that he does not like cats and asks Riccardo to get rid of it. Riccardo insists the cat is harmless.
When Hugo opens the closet to remove the frozen samples, he discovers they are missing. What will happen now? Maybe Detective Woodbine (Arden Teresa Lewis) can solve the mystery, or can she?
Will Detective Woodbine be able to solve this case? Will Hugo and Dr. Merriweather be successful in bringing back Hugo’s father if they do find the samples, and who took them? And which of the two cousins will win the heart of Felicity Merriweather? It’s all fun and games in discovering the answers to these questions.
Thanks to a cast of charming and talented actors who bring a great deal of laughter to this comedy mystery under the direction of Linda Rand. The Claw plays Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM, through June 21, at Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West in Los Angeles (near Universal City, North Hollywood, and Studio City.)