Open House is a very contemporary farce/social satire. Alistair and Beverly are tying to sell their house to move to a better neighborhood, one town over. The problem is that their neighbors have erected a huge and tacky patriotic 9/11-tribute lawn display that they believe may deter buyers. Trouble ensues when they ask their neighbors, Lewis and Melanie, to remove the thing. Meanwhile, Alistair and his daughter Sylvia are both competing for the affection of Alex, the neighbor’s son. Politically, Open House is messy - which I am sure is exactly how playwright Ross Maxwell wants it. But it’s also very funny until it runs out of steam about three quarters of the way through. There are some very good performances as well, especially Bess Rous's Sylvia and Kathryn A. Layng’s Melanie. With a little trimming here and there, this could be a very good play.Fringe Rating: 8 (out of 10)
For info: http://www.partialcomfort.org/ and www.fringenyc.org
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