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‘Homecoming’ perfects pauses
By Stephanie Ottey
YOUNGStown
Mary Ruth Lynn, managing director of the Youngstown Playhouse, named the theater’s Griffith Adler series of plays as an “actor’s series.” Though we’ve already seen a slew of strong performers on the Moyer Room stage, the latest to open is reason enough to garner that name.
Directed by David El’Hatton, Harold Pinter’s “The Homecoming” is an absurdist comedy that will make you laugh out loud. Centering on a dysfunctional family in London, the play shocks and delights with a string of unexpected dialogue and actions.
Pinter relies on dramatic pauses in his writings; he chooses words deliberately and expects actors to savor them. This has created a convention of theater that has become known as the “Pinter Pause.”
El’Hatton chooses to showcase this technique without abusing it. Long pauses are present in the dialogue, but they are delivered naturally and filled with enough underlying meaning that they are integral to the development of characters.
The pauses would not have been filled, and the characters would not have been developed without El’Hatton’s cast.
The ensemble cast displays a team mentality and collective concentration that is compelling. Each player is visibly grounded in his or her respective character, expressing inner monologues that we can only wish to hear. At the same time, there are clear connections between actors that propel these inner thoughts and complete the absurd reality created within “The Homecoming.”
Tommy O’Donnell plays the patriarch, Max, with unmasked commitment. Carrying himself with an endless disdain for his companions, O’Donnell delivers surprise after laugh after surprise with his volcanic delivery of Pinter’s shocking dialogue. Irreverence has never been so funny as it is in the hands of O’Donnell.
The stoic Ruth is coolly fleshed out by Brandy Johanntges. Ruth stands as the most surprising character in the play, and Johanntges delivers the shock with graceful calm. Her facial expressions are magically stoic and captivatingly meaningful.
Matt White is a lovely counterpart to Ruth, as her lively yet indifferent husband Teddy. White brings a light flavor to a family saturated with heavy relationships, proving to be nicely suited for his role.
Charles Kettering delivers another well-rounded character in Lenny. With a sinister gaze and slithery demeanor, Kettering creates an unease that keeps viewers engaged. We understand Lenny’s relationships and issues thanks to Kettering’s silent communications.
The most sympathetic character, Sam, is lovable in the hands of Tom Jones. Jones wins viewers with his struggle for dominance in a family of strong characters. His humility is genuine.
Johnny Pecano embraces the Pinter technique in defining the character of Joey. The up-and-coming boxer is the Pinter Pause personified, and Pecano’s rhythmless timing is flawless.
All of the actors in this show utilize their silences to the fullest extent, rendering them as true craftsmen of their art.
The close quarters of the space and Jimmy Lybarger’s set design put the audience right in the living room with these unique characters, further welcoming audiences into the strange world of “The Homecoming.”
This must-see show runs through Saturday.
The Youngstown Playhouse is at 600 Playhouse Lane. For ticket information, call 330-788-8739. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Seating is limited.