Like it or not, part of every parent’s job is to screw up their kids. No matter how well intentioned a parental figure is, they will undoubtedly affect how their children function in the world. It’s this unfortunate fact of life that authors Fiona Hogan and Courtney Kramer have put to music in Mental, playing at the Edgemar Center for the Arts.
Set in a mental health facility, the musical focuses on the family dynamics of The Clutterbucks, as they visit daughter/sister Violet for Family Therapy Weekend. Bringing together the dysfunctional clan, Violet’s doctor hopes to bring to light the issues each family member is repressing.
During the two hour play, we are introduced to the controlling matriarch Eloise Clutterbuck, played by Eileen Barnett; domineering patriarch Harry, played by Michael Bryan French; overachieving and emotionally closed off son Jared, played by Rob Estes; sex addicted daughter Mona, played by Miranda Frigon; slacker son Sport, played by John Bobek and of course the catalyst for the family reunion, clinically depressed Violet, played by Courtney Kramer. The audience is later introduced to family friend and Hollywood starlet Siobban, played by Christian Omari and Mona’s self obsessed boyfriend Dean, played by Adam Simmons.
As therapy leader Dr. Gary (usually played by Ryan Matthew, but understudied by Jeff Sumner for the July 14th performance) tries to get to the root of the Clutterbucks’ issues, he draws each family member out of their shell to reveal the real motivations behind their behavior. Along the way the characters break into song, some comical, others more serious, to express how they feel about each other.
In a stand out performance from Barnett, Sumner and Omari in "Kiss My Ass", the audience is treated to a comical tongue lashing aimed at all the men who’ve wronged their characters in the past. Sumner later follows this up by closing the first act with "No More Dairy", where Dr. Gary laments all the things he’s given up in order to better himself. The comedic songs are by far the best in the production, with the more serious offerings trying a little too hard to be poignant.
But whether you enjoy every song or not, the entire cast gives impressive vocal performances, including Rob Estes, best known for his roles on Silk Stalkings and Melrose Place, who holds his own against his obviously more musically experienced cast mates. While Estes isn’t the strongest singer in the group, he does a decent job with his only featured song, "Look to the Moon."
Where Estes may fall a bit short in singing, he definitely makes up for it in his acting abilities. As some of the best moments in the show come from the family members confronting each other, Estes shines as he calls his brother out during one such scene. And his performance as a reluctant dancer in the number "Groove Child" is definitely a highlight.
While the upbeat songs are fun and the drama is effective, the most interesting thing about Mental is that while the audience has come to be entertained, they will assuredly walk away from the theatre analyzing their own family dynamics. One can’t help but see their relatives in the Clutterbucks and reflect on their own issues while watching this emotionally wounded family face the consequences of their life altering actions.
Mental runs through August 26th with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 7pm. The Edgemar Center for the Arts is located at 2437 Main St in Santa Monica.
www.edgemar.org
