Steven Berkoff`s ”West,” in its American premiere production by the Lookingglass Theatre, tells a crushingly familiar story, but gives it a pseudo-poetic spin of semi-Shakespearean poetry and demi-Greek myth.
The tale of sensitive young lads from the London working class who are mired in futility, surrounded by violence and saddled with doltish parents is at least as old as the English ”kitchen sink” dramas of the 1960s. And if anyone has a scholarly urge, comparable stories probably can be traced back to Charles Dickens` time and beyond.
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In any event, we have seen a bunch of it here in Chicago in the last few years-”Bouncers” and ”Class Enemy” are just two variations on the theme-all of it performed by youthful troupes who have a penchant for this kind of vigorous yearning and rebellion.
”West,” originally produced in London in 1983, brings it all back, complete with impenetrable accents and high-energy performances by a dedicated ensemble.
Stomping on stage in tight, mechanistic formation, the five youths, clad in their tight-fitting suits, line up to deliver their litany of injury and defiance, spoken in an inflated poetic style reminiscent of epic heroes.
Their environment, designed with considerable flair by John Musial, is a concrete jungle gym, around which they race and off the walls of which they bounce.
On one side, in a small pocket stage, is a dingy room where the hero`s mum and dad bicker and whine; on the other side, in a similar enclave, is the room of the hero`s girlfriend, whom he visits before and after organizing battle plans with his mates.
The centerpiece of Berkoff`s drama is a long description by the hero, Mike, of his struggle with the bloodthirsty beast of Vengeance that prowls the area in its search for new victims.
David Schwimmer, aided by the pinpoint changes of Musial`s lighting design, gives what appears to be a passionate, well-staged rendition of the monologue; but since his voice did not carry well to the seat where I was stationed in the Theatre Building auditorium, and since his heavy accent doubly clouded the meaning, I understood only a fraction of what he was trying to say.
Unfortunately, this is true of much of the performance. Authentic the accents may be, but comprehensible they are not.
For the rest, the talented Lookingglass ensemble gives the production an amazingly energetic, athletic turn. The men in Mike`s gang are all daredevil acrobats-dancers, and Joy Gregory is both sexy and sad as Mike`s girl Sylv.
Finally, however, Berkoff`s play lets them down, repeating itself in a story that already is too familiar by far.
Two years ago, Lookingglass worked over this shopworn material better, and shorter, in a terrific production of Jonathan Moore`s ”Treatment,” which was co-directed by Catlin and featured Gregory in its cast. This time around, the results are not nearly as invigorating.
`WEST`
A play by Steven Berkoff, presented by Lookingglass Theatre Company, directed by David Catlin, with scenery and lighting by John Musial, costumes by Alison Reeds, dialect coaching by Gillian Lane-Plescia, choreography by the ensemble, sound by Eric Huffman, films by Michael Mees and music by Little Petal. Opened July 6 at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., and plays at 8:15 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 7:15 p.m. Sunday, through Aug. 10. Running time: 2:00. Tickets are $10, or $5 for students and senior citizens. Phone 312-327-5252.
THE CAST
Ken ………………………… Lawrence DiStasi
Sylv ……………………….. Joy Gregory
Steve ………………………. Doug Hara
Ralph ………………………. David Kersner
Mike ……………………….. David Schwimmer
Les ………………………… Temple Williams
Sid ………………………….. Thomas J. Cox
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Pearl ……………………….. Christine Dunford