What does it mean to be faithful?
At first, Chazz Palminteri’s “Faithful” seems like a trite, forced exploration in search of the answer to that question. The opening monologue, directed toward the audience (a device that, thankfully, is never used again) sets the tone for a heavy-handed discussion of the various definitions and consequences of being faithful, or not. And the first minutes of dialogue between the oily Italian hit man Tony and his neurotic housewife-target Margaret seem as contrived as the opening monologue.
Although throwing these two in a room together has comedic potential at first glance, the pairing is neither so original nor so unique that it could carry the show. Their comedic banter, peppered with caustic zingers on married life, strains to justify their bizarre relationship.
And then it begins to produce unexpectedly touching moments. Surprisingly, “Faithful” frees itself from the potential trap of banality and blossoms into a wonderfully multi-faceted, engaging, empowering and funny story.
The dark comedy follows Tony as he attempts to make good on a contract for Margaret’s life, her punishment for being unfaithful to her husband, Jack. Over the course of a few hours, it casts substantial doubt over the real reason for the hit: Has Margaret been unfaithful? Has Jack? Who actually hired Tony? Will Tony actually be able to kill Margaret? Would she actually prefer to die?
As the story progresses, the characters are freed from both stereotype and predictable dialogue and become truly one-of-a-kind. In the second act, mystery and comedy unfold side by side as more clues are revealed and comedic payoffs are more densely packed. The deliberately placed information in the first act comes back to pay dividends.
Each scene features a new and different pairing of characters, peddling his or her ever-changing concoction of deceit and truth. The audience members creep to the edge of their seats, waiting for the next about-face, painful or funny.
And because of the excellent execution at The Edge Theatre Company, either is equally pleasing.
“Faithful” successfully integrates suspense, drama and humor in unpredictable and pleasing combinations. The revolving-status relationships require portraying each character as vulnerable and powerful, resulting in uncommon and refreshingly well-rounded performances.
Lisa DeCaro as Margaret shines throughout, bafflingly believable as she cycles through inhuman levels of empathy, curiosity, hurt, and manipulation. She is easily genuine and moving, no small feat considering her character’s roller coaster of emotions and alliances.
Rick Yaconis’ Tony plays a cliche as the story starts to unfold, setting the foundation for laughs and unexpected departures from stereotype. And Margaret’s husband Jack, played by Len Matheo, is stiff and self-conscious, appropriately playing his cards close to the chest until all truths are revealed.
Kelly Westback’s design elements are well-coordinated, confidently executed and successfully set the tone for the story, including playful lobby decor and pre-show music. Onstage footage from security cameras extends the reality of the story beyond the single room that represents Jack and Margaret’s living space.
This is an accomplished production; don’t be fooled by the rocky set-up. If you can’t sit through the somewhat implausible moments that open the show, you’ll regret missing out on a poignantly comedic endgame.
Or, as Tony would say, you shoulda been faithful.
Kateri McRae, an assistant professor at the University of Denver, is the “she” half of the “He Said/She Said Critiques,” which can be found at milehighcritics.wordpress.com. E-mail:katerimcrae@gmail.com
“Faithful” *** (out of four stars)
The Edge Theatre, 9797 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood. Written by Chazz Palminteri. Directed by Robert Kramer. Through Aug. 28. 1 hour, 55 minutes. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 6 p.m. Sundays. $14-$18. 303-232-0363 or theedgetheatre.com
Best Bet: “Romeo and Juliet” at the Arvada Center
The Colorado Shakespeare Festival brings its well-received summer staging of “Romeo and Juliet” from Boulder to the Arvada Center’s outdoor amphitheater for two performances Friday and Saturday (Aug. 19 and 20) only. Shakespeare’s tragedy follows the star-crossed lovers as they hurtle from their first shy glances to their last heartrending kiss. Featuring a lush, Renaissance-design setting, this is a production aimed at satisfying the classic Shakespeare lover. 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada, 720-898-7200 or coloradoshakes.org. John Moore
Best Bet: Inspire Creative’s “The Wizard of Oz”
Follow the Yellow Brick Road: The Inspire Creative theater company presents “The Wizard of Oz” in Littleton. Adapted from the classic movie, the musical follows Dorothy on her strange journey through Oz, from the Wicked Witch of the East to the Wicked Witch of the West. 7 p.m. Aug. 19-20 and Aug. 26-27 at the Burgundy Theater, 9136 W. Bowles Ave., in Littleton. Reserved seats are $25 for adults, $20 for students and seniors, $15 for kids age 12 and younger. Gallery seating is $12; VIP tickets $30. inspirecreative.org. Kathleen St. John
This weekend’s other openings
“Love! Valour! Compassion!” In Terrence McNally’s iconic 1995 play, eight gay men hash out their passions, resentments and fears over the course of three summer weekends at a lakeside summer vacation house. Through Sept. 18. Vintage Theatre, 2119 E. 17th Ave., 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com
“The Mystery of Irma Vep” In Charles Ludlum’s quick-change spoof of gothic horror and Victorian melodrama, two actors jump from character to character at top speed — conjuring lovesick werewolves, ridiculous vampires and other camp creatures. Through Sept. 23. Creede Repertory Theatre, 124 N. Main St., Creede, 866-658-2540, or creederep.org
“Sea of Blood” In their words: “Watch Captain Jake Tempest and his fearless pirate crew fight off the British Navy, hordes of angry tribesmen and the Giant Octopus in this evening of nonstop action, set to the live rock soundtrack of the War Ensemble. Presented as part of a double-feature, along with the samurai neo-kabuki carnage of Cycle of Tyranny, a blood-soaked power struggle over control of feudal Japan!” 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday (Aug. 19 and 20) only. Presented by Planet X Productions at the Bug Theater, 3654 Navajo St., 303-477-5977 or bugtheatre.org
Complete theater listings
Go to our complete list of every currently running production in Colorado, including summaries, run dates, addresses, phones and links to every company’s home page. Or check out our listings by company or by opening date
The Running Lines blog
Catch up on John Moore’s roundup of the latest theater news: denverpost.com/runninglines
