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Wednesday, February 27, 2008
‘The Missionary Position’ @ Horizon
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THEATER REVIEW. Grade: C
Check the headlines for news about your favorite politician, and you may find an uncanny resemblance to the goings-on in Keith Reddin’s “The Missionary Position.”
Smear tactics. Grotesque photographs posted on the Internet. Shady real-estate deals. Conflicts of interest. It’s all par for the course in the campaign of the conservative presidential candidate who never appears onstage in Horizon Theatre’s election-year satire.
Directed by Heidi Cline, “The Missionary Position” suggests that the erosion of America’s hallowed principal of separation of church and state policy is being facilitated by a bunch of self-serving buffoons with personal agendas about their own personal Jesuses, pocketbooks and political aspirations.
That would be right-wing Christian wiggle worm Roger (Brik Berkes), campaign bean counter Neil (Anthony Rodriguez) and fashion-challenged socialite/congresswoman-wannabe Julie (Tess Malis Kincaid). While mealy-mouthed Roger checks into hotel rooms across America — signified only by the revolving paintings over the bed — Neil and Julie raid the minibar and whip up chaos.
This is probably a good place to explain that, despite its unexplained title, “The Missionary Position,” is not about a sex scandal. Rather, these political incompetents trash their candidate’s White House hopes by dint of their hyprocrisy, egomania and shady morals.
Thank goodness Roger never hangs a “do not disturb” on his door. The various maids (all played by Bethany Irby) who drop in have richer emotional lives and more credible concerns than Reddin’s political types. But why is Roger trying so hard to connect with these women? Like so much of the play, that remains an enigma.
In fact, it’s hard to figure out what to make of any of Reddin’s poorly nuanced characters or tenuous ideas. This is a solid, hard-working cast, but the overblown performances and hit-and-miss comedy won’t do much to win your vote.
THE 411: 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays. 8:30 p.m. Saturdays. 5 p.m. Sundays. Through March 16. $20-$25. Horizon Theatre, 1083 Austin Ave., Little Five Points. 404-584-7450, horizontheatre.com
BOTTOM LINE: Not a theatrical front-runner.
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