Play explores family comforts, horrors

Contributed photo (left to right) Nick Moberg, Mark Reuter and Linda Donald in "Fuddy Meers"

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By Terry Morris, Staff Writer 4:35 PM Monday, June 8, 2009

DAYTON — There’s nothing worse than being part of a family, or better.

Both conclusions can be drawn from David Lindsay-Abaire’s dark comedy “Fuddy Meers,” which opened Friday, June 5, as the Dayton Theatre Guild’s final production on Salem Avenue. Fred Blumenthal directed.

Lindsay-Abaire, who won the Pulitzer Prize in 2007 for “Rabbit Hole” and penned the book for the Broadway musical “Shrek,” wrote “Fuddy Meers” 10 years ago. His first play is peopled with human irregulars who might have stepped off the pages of a Christopher Durang or Paula Vogel script.

They are beyond eccentric, potentially violent, prone to blackouts, hanging by a thread, but, somehow, hopeful.

Wife and mother Claire, played by Rachel Wilson, is the central figure. She’s caught in the middle of familial forces that might be benevolent or diabolical.

Her current husband, Mark Reuter as Richard, seems nice enough, but smokes dope with Claire’s son, Kenny (Nick Moberg), and wrests a gun away from a policewoman (Linda Donald in an exuberant performance).

Claire’s ex, Mark Diffenderfer as a guy with a bad eye and an ear rendered useless by hot bacon grease, seems caring and earnest. But he has a history. Claire’s mom, Gertie (Ellen Finch in a great performance as a stroke victim spouting meaningful gibberish), makes as much sense as anyone. Christopher Berry plays a wrongfully convicted man whose obscenity-spouting puppet is his salvation.

Things get sorted out by midway through Act 2. That may not inspire total confidence in the form Claire’s family finally takes, but it does provide a sort of happy ending.

“Fuddy Meers” will continue through June 21 at 2330 Salem Ave. Call (937) 278-5993.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2377 or tmorris@DaytonDaily News.com.

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