Why Not Risk Everything at Suburban Motel
Risk Everything, is a different story featuring R.J. (Sebastion Kroon) and Denise (Marisa Smith), the main characters from Problem Child. It is a little unclear as to when this story takes place as the question of their future with Christine is virtually dropped with a quick mention. As a self-contained story, it doesn’t really matter.
Why?
Cheryl Swan’s performance as Carol, that’s why. Cheryl Swan is astounding.
Carol is Denise’s mother. She is hard, prickly, and doesn’t give a shit about anyone else. Her world is all about her and her actions almost get all of them killed. The play opens with Carol being helped by R.J. -- they have just returned from the hospital where Carol’s wounds were being treated from an assault she had suffered at the hands of a drug dealer. The situation goes from bad to “oh, god, oh, god, we’re all going to die” fairly quickly as Carol reveals to her daughter and son-in-law what she has been up to in recent weeks. She is a naughty woman, is never ashamed of her actions, and the audience loves her for it. She is a character we would all like to be... if we didn’t have much of a conscience.
Tossed into the mayhem is Michael, the pornographic film producer, played ever so well by John Shaw. Michael takes a shine to Carol’s alluring qualities and finds himself quickly wrapped in her grasp -- where it almost kills him. John Shaw’s comedic wit sells his character a love-able goof who loves sex and, above all, is attracted to strong personalities.
I want to address the dropping of Christine as a plot point. The future of Christine isn’t overly important to this play but I had watched two of the actors in Problem Child. I did find it a little strange that Denise didn’t react to a comment made by Carol about their child. I wonder if that moment was missed or if I missed it. I don’t want to make a huge deal about it but I felt there may have been more there that wasn’t expressed on stage.
Strong performances all around with this one and it left a smile on my face.