Theatre Review

Vonnegut play a hit at Burbage

By Don Fowler
Posted 1/29/16

Kurt Vonnegut Jr. only wrote one play, and he put everything he had into it.

“Happy Birthday, Wanda June” is dark humor at its darkest, filled with Vonnegut’s satirical views on post-war …

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Theatre Review

Vonnegut play a hit at Burbage

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Kurt Vonnegut Jr. only wrote one play, and he put everything he had into it.

“Happy Birthday, Wanda June” is dark humor at its darkest, filled with Vonnegut’s satirical views on post-war society in the ’60s.

Director Wendy Overly has taken the play, whose opening line is “This is a simple-minded play about men who enjoy killing and those who don’t,” and brought out the satire and humor to the nth degree.

Harold Ryan (Andy Stigler) is a “revenant,” a soldier missing for eight years and presumed dead. His wife, Penelope (Allison Crews) and young son Paul (Nicholas Griffin) have gone on with their lives. She has two suitors: a mild-mannered doctor (Dillon Madina) and a vacuum cleaner salesman (Justin Page).

One day, out of the blue, Harold returns home with his wacko friend (hilarious performance by Jim Sullivan), only to be rejected by his wife for his scary, threatening behavior.

You may be wondering where the title of the play came from. I’ll just say that it has to do with a birthday cake meant for a little girl who has gone to heaven, where she has met some interesting characters, which all fit into the play in a bizarre way.

Harold’s return is not only unexpected, it is unwanted. Penelope, and society, has moved on from the violent, war-like attitudes that the soldier/big game hunter represents.

How can all this be resolved?

Go see this unusually brilliant play and find out. But get your tickets today because the previews and early performances sold out.

The acting is great. The staging is innovative, making good use of this small theatre space located inside Aurora, former home of Black Repertory Theatre at 276 Westminster St. in downtown Providence. Tickets are only $10 to $20. The show runs through February 5. Go online at www.Burbagetheatre.com for more information.

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