BWW Reviews: THE STRANGE MISADVENTURES OF PATTY … at Annex Theatre

If there's one thing that irritates me more than anything else it's someone else's therapy on stage.  If it's wrapped up in an engaging story then I'm willing to overlook a lot but when it's just an author working out their issues for all to see, then don't waste my time.  And while Annex Theatre's current show "The Strange Misadventures of Patty, Patty's Dad, Patty's Friend Jen, and a Whole Bunch of Other People" isn't completely camped out on the psychologists couch and has some really wonderful performances and moments, at times it felt a little forced and self indulgent.

Patty (Marianna de Fazio) is a young economist making quite a name for herself at her firm.  She's just bought her first house, her best friend Jen (Kelsey Yuhara) has superpowers and her life is so great that it spontaneously erupts into musical numbers.  What more could anyone ask for?  But then suddenly reality rears its ugly head into Patty's rosy colored world when her estranged Dad (Jon Lee) has a stroke and it's up to Patty to take care of him.  Patty never the less tries to hold everything together with sheer will but cannot always do so.  After all, she doesn't have superpowers.

The play itself, by Allison Moore, has a lot going for it.  The absurd, surrealistic, metaphorical nature of her perfect life contrasted with the stark reality of her Dad's condition is quite clever and allows for many fun and poignant moments.  But there were three main problems I had that kept me from enjoying it more.  First, much of the story and dialog feels forced.  Moore really wants to get her point across and tends towards over explaining.  Second, Patty keeps launching into explanations of economic theory and how it relates to her world.  The problem is I'm not an economist.  Most people aren't.  So even as fun as she was making these lessons, they came across as confusing and self indulgent and I found myself tuning out when they happened.  And I cannot say I was the only one as the final lesson seemed to be set up to be a major punch line the way it was staged and no one laughed.  And finally, there's the ending of the play.  You can forgive a lot if a show has a good ending.  But once all the therapy was done and it was time to wrap things up, wrap them up they did and quickly and with a nice little bow.  In fact it was so abrupt and heartwarming that it felt less like a clever piece of theater and more like a Lifetime Movie of the Week.

The performers do what they can with the script.  De Fazio is likable and has some wonderful moments as the beleaguered Patty but both she and Yuhara came across at times as a bit stiff and presentational.  But that could be the tone director Amy Poisson was going for with the script.  If so, it needed to be taken further.  Alec Wilson, Audrey Takisaki, Jason Pead and Samantha Camp each have their moments to shine as the "Other People" and each take those moments and run with them with glee.  And Lee as Patty's ailing Dad turns in a stellar performance as a struggling, formerly independent stroke victim now barely able to communicate. 

All in all it's not a bad show.  It has its moments of fun, intellect, and emotion.  But for all the baggage that we have to wade through, there's just not quite enough of a payoff.

"The Strange Misadventures of Patty, Patty's Dad, Patty's Friend Jen, and a Whole Bunch of Other People" performs at Annex Theatre through August 27^th.  For tickets or information visit them online at www.annextheatre.org.

Photo Credit: Ian Johnston/Annex Theatre Company