Review: 'Looped' at Connecticut Cabaret Theatre

Berlin, CT - The Connecticut Cabaret Theatre continues with an engrossing production of LOOPED, a play written by Matthew Lombardo. LOOPED was originally produced on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre in February of 2010; the Broadway version, as well as two previous versions, featured the late actress Valerie Harper in the role of Tallulah Bankhead under the direction of Rob Ruggiero. The CCT show is directed and produced, as they always are, by Owner/Artistic Director Kris McMurray.

LOOPED, set in the summer of 1965 in a recording studio in Los Angeles, is based on a real event involving Tallulah Bankhead. The inebriated actress required eight hours to redub- or loop - one line of dialogue for her last movie, FANATIC. Though Ms. Bankhead's over-the-top personality dominates the play, there is a sub-story that involves her battle of wills with a film editor named Danny Miller, who has been selected to work that particular sound editing session with an unseen sound technician. I must admit that I did not know many details about the personal life of Ms. Bankhead before the performance, but I certainly learned a lot from the well-written and very funny script.

"All my life I've been terrible at remembering people's names. I once introduced a friend of mine as Martini. Her name was actually Olive. " - Tallulah Bankhead

The extremely talented Kelly Boucher (TEA AT FIVE at CCT) tackles the role of Tallulah Bankhead and somehow makes it all look easy. She successfully channels the late actress in her mannerisms, her voice and the spot-on delivery of a slew of classic one liners and several monologues. She even performs a speech from STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and through it, the audience did not make a sound.

Given her "looped" state (and inability to dub the line perfectly), what ensues is a comical showdown between an uptight and conservative sound editor, Danny Miller, and the outrageous star.

I knew that Ms. Boucher would give a brilliant performance, and therefore made a point not to miss this production. What I did not expect was that her co-star Chris Pearson (CLEVER LITTLE LIES at CRT) would give a performance that would truly rise to the level of hers. As the conservative Danny Miller, the actor made the most of the character’s battle of wits (and wills) with the fading actress and his reveal during the more serious second act. He was a stellar foil for the strong personality of the “talent” and a joy to watch as he was forced to interact with her.

The set designed by Technical Designer James J. Moran is period appropriate and detailed and was the perfect setting for this piece. The two costumes also fit the era, with Ms. Bankhead in a classic black dress and fur jacket. Mr. Moran did everything for the performance that I attended, starting with welcoming the audience on behalf of the owner, running lights and sound (“Paper Moon” worked well as incidental music) and voicing Steve, the unseen technician in the sound booth, from well, the actual sound booth. Mr. Moran got many well-deserved laughs on the night I attended.

LOOPED is presented with one fifteen-minute intermission. Be forewarned that there is a whole lot of foul language in the script. Patrons are encouraged to bring along their own beverages and snacks to enjoy throughout the performance. Book your tickets to Looped a new comedy by Matthew Lombaro. ctcabaret.com or call 860-829-1248

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.

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