Looped

Rhett's Review:

Looped, Starring Valerie Bertinelli...I mean Valerie Harper!...lol. Written by Matthew Lombardo.
Seen Wednesday, March 31st.

So I'm a bad Gay. I don't really know very much about Tallulah Bankhead (other than some fabulous drag queens I've seen who call themselves "The Duelling Bankheads")...but I can consider myself a bit more learned after having seen "Looped".
I have to start by saying that I have personally been victim to much hype over this show. And though there are 3 actors on stage,it's really a One Woman Show for Valerie Harper.
But the hype was well deserved!
From her first explosive entrance blasting,"FUCK LOS ANGELES!" til her last touching moments re-enacting Blanche Dubois' heartfelt monologue, Valerie Harper was rivetting,scathing,captivating,and Real. There better be a Tony nomination with her name on it.

If I had to make any criticism it would be the underuse of the brilliant Michael Mulheren (who stole every scene in "Kiss Me Kate" a few years back). The little stage time that he DOES get is delightfully engaging.
Brian Hutchison rounds out the cast as Danny,the poor sound engineer stuck in a studio with a drunk and "coked up" Tallulah trying to re-record (or "Loop") a single line of dialog from Bankheads last film. While Hutchison may not captivate or provoke the way that Harper can, he definitely holds his own opposite the larger than life Bankhead (no easy task).
I still laugh to myself (3 days later) when I think of the fabulously ludicrous jabs,jokes,and zingers (Tallula-isms) that flew off of Harpers acid tongue,one after another. My favorite is when Bankhead disappears for a LONG break,and returns to hear Danny asking "where were you? You've been gone for THREE HOURS". To which Bankhead replies "There was a LONG LINE in the ladies room..." she then wipes her nose and says "but it's gone now!"...lol.
Sex,drugs, and a "rockin' role" for Valerie Harper.
On a scale of "top","bottom",or "versatile"...I give "Looped" a Big Ol' TOP!...lol

Carlos's Review:

The beginning of 2010 Theater Season with, the Jew. Started off with a laugh riot and introspective start. Starting off with half off drinks at the Ritz, my theater partner Rhett and myself made the sprint across Times Square. It seems to have become a bit of a Tradition that we are always left with 5 min before Curtain and a race to theater ensues. Regardless of where pre theater drinks and nibbles occur, on one occasion we were across the street from a show and almost missed the curtain but made it as the house lights went down.

This night was no exception after arriving on the wrong street we had two minutes till curtain and with a nice bourbon buzz going on we settled into our seats. House lights to half, cell phone announcement, house lights down, curtain up.

Looped, tells of a true event in which Famed Actress and Self proclaimed Alcoholic Tallulah Bankhead, had to re record a single line, from what was to be her last motion picture, Die! Die! My Darling. This seemingly simple task turned into an 8-hour day, to the chagrin of Film editor Danny Miller played by Brian Hutchinson. Bankhead played by TV’s Valerie Harper. Arrives late and in a whirlwind of profanity and self-importance, she bluntly states “FUCK LOS ANGELES”

The first act is chock full of one line zingers that made Tallulah famous, these lines to numerous to list are delivered with comic timing that can only come from a an actress so adept at her craft it lends it self to genius status. The line that did bring the house down included “New York City is made for morons, everything is numbered and if you get lost in New York you don’t deserve to be found.” Watching the scenes unfold and from the safety of the sound booth Steve, played by the ever talented Michael Mulheren. Seems to be the voice of reason at points and sometimes the devils advocate as Bankhead and Miller slug it out.

Well-written scripts by the play write Matthew Lombardo of Tea At Five, fame. Mr. Lombardo takes the audience into the caricature of Tallulah and at times extracts the vulnerability of this ageed actress as well breaking down the stoic nature and uptightness of Danny Miller. Beyond the drunken, pill popping, shocking vulgarity that made Tallulah Bankhead infamous, we as an audience can see that deep down this is a woman who needed attention albeit negative or positive. The themes of the evening that I gleaned was “DO something, take a lover, get drunk, take a vacation, but do something other than what you are doing now.”

Ms. Harper’s performance in this theatergoer’s opinion is worthy of a Tony Award Nomination and show’s that she is not just Rhoda Morgenstern. With the distinct characteristic of a well know personality it could have been easy for Ms. Harper to play the role up as a camp piece but we are given a true Broadway performance from an actress still at the top of her game.

Mr. Hutchinson also gives us a performance that is neurotic to the point of annoying, because the character is holding something back from the audience, and as the second act unfolds we are shown what that something is. Honestly emotional and thought provoking, Mr. Hutchinson allows the audience to be drawn into his own pain, and angst.

Looped is well worth the time and not to be missed. This what going to the theater is all about.

As stated before, this is a great way to start this theater bird’s season.

So on a Scale of Top, Bottom or Versatile

I give it a Big old Top