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THE HOUSE OF YES
MARCH 2004
(please scroll all the way down for all reviews)
Bizarre 'House of Yes' makes for
entertaining theater
Incest. Mayhem. Insanity. The current
production at Poway Performing Arts Company has them all.
But despite the negative atmosphere, it's a very good production.
Director Jim Payton has gathered an exceptional cast to portray the somewhat uncanny and complex characters in Wendy MacLeod's dark comedy "The House of Yes." It takes place in a suburb of Washington, D.C., two decades after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Payton describes the characters in the play as "people who have cut themselves off from the rest of the world and are living by the rules they've invented."
The daughter
of the house, Jackie-O, is more than obsessed with the Kennedy family and the day of the
president's death. Actress Debbie Britt-Hay has captured the essence of this troubled
young woman.
It's Thanksgiving Day, a hurricane is brewing, and Jackie-O has recently returned home
following her stay in a mental hospital. She is disturbed to learn that her twin brother,
Marty, is en route from New York City and bringing along a friend.
This is all the more disturbing because, as their mother points out, "Marty never had
a friend before."
And why not, when everyone in the family demonstrates strange tendencies bordering on
fanatic to weird to downright abnormal.
John DeCarlo plays Jackie-O's twin, Marty. He seems to be the sanest of the bunch, until
his past behaviors and unusual closeness to his sister are revealed. DeCarlo gives an
arresting performance.
John Henry Litten portrays their younger brother, Anthony. While Litten leads the audience
to believe there may be hope for this young man, it's soon evident he is as wacky as the
rest of them. And at times, perhaps more so.
Kaly McKenna is cast as their mother, a strange woman, indeed, and one that McKenna's
portrayal gives creditability.
The friend whom Marty brings home is his fiancee, Lesly, played by Karla Francesca. She
does a great job with not much to back up her character's credentials. Lesly is from
Pennsylvania and works at a doughnut shop, hardly the pedigree for this upper-class
family. But, after all, as Jackie-O says, "We all have secrets."
Costumes designed by Erin McGathy are perfect for the 1980s time frame, especially the
formal attire worn by the three women in the cast.
The dual set (living room and bedroom separated by a partial wall) designed by Lou Alliano
is set off by red leather furniture with touches of red accents. Alliano's sound design,
along with lighting by Peter McGuinness, add to the overall effect.
While keeping in mind that adult themes prevail, "The House of
Yes" is a good choice for spending an afternoon or evening at the
theater.
Reviewer: Gerry Reeves
"Dark, Demented 'House Of Yes' Provides Evening Of Hilarity At PowPAC"
Without a question, "House Of Yes" is one of the most unique offerings in San Diego's theater circles this year. Currently playing at the Poway Performing Arts Company (PowPAC) theater in Poway, this brilliantly dark and demented comedy offers the ultimate in irreverence and adult themes. It may not please the appetites of all theater-goers, but the ones I observed at the play's opening night performance were doubled over with laughter from beginning to final bows.
This is a very funny show, one of those rare jewels that defies convention and wanders into dark and dangerous territory where only the bravest go; a psychotic circle of the most dysfunctional family ever presented on stage, the Pascals.
Wendy MacLeod's dark and at times chilling play is brilliantly acted by a superb cast. When you combine great writing, exceptional acting, and outstanding direction, you have a great show. The PowPAC version of "The House Of Yes" has all three.
Debbie Britt-Hay couldn't be funnier in the role of Jackie-O, a somewhat demented girl who thinks she is Jackie Kennedy and who dons a pink suit and pillbox hat to make love with her twin brother, Marty (John DeCarlo). Britt-Hay provides just the right touches of nuttiness and insane innocence to make this part work.
Kaly McKenna gives a bravura performance as the mother. She is at once sinister, hilarious, and always in command. She casually drops lines like "I'm going to baste the turkey and hide the kitchen knives," and "Jackie's hand was holding Marty's penis when they came out of the womb..."
Karla Francesca is Lesly, Marty's fiancee, who is brought home to meet the family. She goes a lot further, particularly with Anthony, a younger brother who seduces her while Marty is busy with Jackie-O. Francesca is beautiful and sexy. She conveys an innocence and naivete, even as she accepts Anthony's bedroom advances. She is a sane, poor girl (a counter girl at a New York donut shop) among the very demented rich. She represents a touch of sanity in an insane Pascal household.
It may be unfair to single out any actor in this show. This cast works beautifully together. They each turn in exceptional performances under the skillful direction of Jim Payton, whose light touch makes the macabre even funnier. DeCarlo certainly holds his own among the zany women, and John Henry Litten could not be better as the younger brother, Anthony.
The simple set by Joel and Sherrie Colbourn and dressed by Brent Stringfield works to perfection and focuses attention on the actors and the action. Empty picture frames in the living room and bedroom are just one of the many clever touches that add to the chilling and humorous nature of the show.
PowPAC is located upstairs in the Lively Center at 13250 Poway Road, Poway. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM. Reservations can be made by calling the theater at 858-679-8085. General admission is $12, $10 for seniors and students.
Reviewer: Robert Hitchcox
The Pascal family, 1983 McLean, Virginia, in "The House Of Yes" at PowPAC easily qualifies as dysfunctional. Mrs. Pascal (Kaly McKenna) is practically oblivious to any reality outside of the confines of the family estate. She doesn't seem to grasp the reality of her own family. We suspect that she probably killed her husband. We suspect that she is very much aware of the incestuous relationship between twins Marty (John DeCarlo) and Jackie-O (Debbie Britt-Hay). Any mother who states, as Mrs. Pascal does, "Cattle are raised, children just happen," definitely has a few loose threads. McKenna has an elegantly blase glaze that seems to be hiding her character's insanity.
Jackie-O, named after a prominent neighbor, is certifiably bonkers. She has been hospitalized, although currently living at home with her mother and younger brother, Anthony (John Henry Litten). Jackie-O dresses like the former first lady, even down to the pillbox hat. Jackie-O also has a gun fetish. A few years ago she wounded her twin with a loaded revolver. She likes to replay the little incident. Britt-Hay maintains a sickly grin throughout her performance. She is convincingly nuts. Definitely stay away from this one.
Marty appears to be the sanest of the Pascals. After a whirlwind romance with a donut shop waitress, he is engaged. DeCarlo plays Marty fairly normally, but then he starts interacting with his sister. They play their little murder game, an antecedent to their sexual romp. Marty pretty well quirks out after that. DeCarlo's best moments were when Marty is the most demented.
Anthony spent a short time in college (I mean really short) before returning to the family compound. He appears to be relatively normal. Of course in "The House Of Yes" everything is relative. Anthony tends to be a bit obsessive.When he decides that he should bed his older brother's fiancee, things get a bit dicey. Litten understates his character.
Lesly (Karla Francesca), Marty's fiancee, enters this menagerie unsuspecting of what is about to happen to her. Francesca plays the only sane person, an unwelcome outsider, abused by Mrs. Pascal, Jackie-O, and Anthony. Francesca offers a believable contrast to the demented Pascals. Her character is naive, a pauper in the land of wealth. But even Lesly is not totally immune to the insanity of the household.
The set by the Joel and Sherrie Colbourn team works quite well. Whether scripted, an idea of director Jim Payton, or set dresser Brent Stringfield, the painting-less frames in each of the rooms added a delightful touch to the house of Pascal. Costume Designer Erin McGathy (also did props) fit the period well, especially the Jackie-O costumes. Peter McGuinness provided a nice lighting plot with extremely effective specials that closed the show. Lou Alliano's sound complimented the show.
"The House Of Yes" is very darkly funny, not for everybody. Using the Kennedy assassination as a stimulus to an incestuous relationship is not everybody's idea of humor. However, watching one sane person cope with this house of weirdness is quite interesting. The audience at the performance I saw not only enjoyed themselves, but also had some interesting conversation after the show. This is definitely adult fare and funny in a strange way.
Reviewer: Beverly Ragsdale
"The House Of Yes" will be on stage at the POWPAC Theatre through March
28. Wendy MacLeod has written this dark comedy about the Pascal's, a very, very
dysfunctional family.
Mrs. Pascal is at the helm of this seriously disturbed
family and is the mother who is not even sure who fathered her three children. She did
marry, though her husband passed away sometime back, we're not exactly sure how. It's
Thanksgiving and mom has prepared dinner for the family. Anthony, (the younger son), has
dropped out of Princeton to come home and Jackie-O, (the daughter) is home from the mental
hospital. Marty, (the older son), had been trying to distance himself from the family, but
for some reason he can't stay away. Marty and his fiancée have braved the hurricane to
join his family for Thanksgiving dinner. Perhaps he is trying to prove that he has broken
the bond by bringing his fiancée, Lesly. Marty and Jackie-O are twins who have always
been in love with each other, creating an incestuous relationship that is destroying this
family. The family home is near the Kennedy's resident and Jackie-O has been obsessed with
Jackie Kennedy and the assassination of John Kennedy. Jackie-O and Marty have created
their own portrayal of the assassination, where Jackie-O dresses as Jackie Kennedy and
Marty plays John Kennedy. This is a favorite scene that the twins like to play over and
over. Mom has ordered Marty to send Lesly away, but Lesly has decided she is not leaving
without Marty. In the meantime Anthony is trying to convince Lesly to be his
"first" sexual partner.
This play is very cleverly written, at the same time that
it is disturbing, it is also has very funny lines. Jim Payton deserves accolades for
directing an excellent production. He cast actors that were perfect
in accurately portraying their characters and delivering their lines in a timely matter.
Debbie Britt-Hay is very good in her
role of the chilling Jackie-O, who at times makes you wonder if she really is insane or is
this how she controls the entire family. Kaly McKenna is also good as she portrays
the frightening Mrs. Pascal, who no matter what, intends to keep her family together. John
DeCarlo is right on as he plays Marty, the son who is caught in this tangled web of a
family. John Henry Litten is exceptional as Anthony, the youngest son who can't escape the
bonds of this family. Karla Francesca does very well in the role of Lesly, the outsider
who is shocked at what has happened and is happening in this house.
Joel and Sherrie Colbourn designed the set that had the
living room of the Pascal's house on one side and guest bedroom on the other side of the
stage. It was nicely decorated and to demonstrate the emptiness and sadness of the house,
the picture frames on the walls were empty.
"The House Of Yes" will be on the stage of Poway Performing Arts Company, 13250 Poway Road, Poway, CA., through March 28. Performances are on Friday and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sunday matinees at 2 pm. Call the box office at 858-679-8085 to order tickets.