Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help - Ivoryton Playhouse

The show, Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, plays like a run-of-the-mill sitcom episode from the 1970s or 80s.  The slice-of-life work by playwright Katie Forgette focuses on the O’Shea family, an Irish-Catholic household with an irascible father, Mike (Rod Brogan); an overworked mother, Jo (Amber Quick); her sister Terri (Rebecka Jones); and daughters Linda (Autumn Eliza Sheffy) and Becky (Maggie Hamel).  There is also the voice of Mike’s irritating, semi-invalid mother; a dogmatic priest; and a busybody neighbor, both portrayed by Mr. Brogan. The show, as explained by the older daughter, Linda, is a memory play about family – the good, the bad, and the inane.  She is about to embark on a scholarship to graduate school at Stanford.  Or so she thinks as family drama takes hold of the domicile.  The driving force within the play is the womanly issues involving puberty. 

Ms. Forgette employs narration by the characters and the continuous breaking of the 4^th wall to convey exposition and emotions.  Used selectively, these theatrical devices can enhance a production, but there is too much of a reliance on them in the production.  

Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help can be funny at times, and there are a few twists and turns to keep the audience diverted.  The playwright imbues the script with numerous references to the era, including Bob Dylan, Richard Nixon and Marlo Thomas of the TV show That Girl.

Director Jacqui Hubbard utilizes Scenic Designer Starlet Jacobs’ suitable frumpy, 1970’s kitchen/living room set to full advantage, as the cast bustles around the stage busying themselves.  She keeps the performers engaged with schtick and exploits heightened facial expressions and over-the-top portrayals to tease out comedic moments. 

The cast is pleasing, game for the carryings-on infused within the work, and the blithe direction by Ms. Hubbard.  Rod Brogan is fine as the petulant Mike, who bellows about the sink’s food disposal unit and the jiggling of the upstairs toilet handle.  As Father Lovett, he is suitably self-important.  His portrayal of Betty is somewhat overblown.  Amber Quick’s depiction of the harried Jo is the most nuanced of the characters.  Rebecka Jones provides Terri with worldliness and gumption.  Autumn Eliza Sheffy’s Linda is full of spirit and spunk, while Maggie Hamel’s Becky provides the best horror-struck moments of the play. 

Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, playing at the Ivoryton Playhouse through October 26.  Click here for dates, times, and ticket information.