Swept up in ‘Hurricane Diane’

By Eric George Tauber

Eric George Tauber
Jenn Harris as Pam Annunziata, Opal Alladin as Renee Shapiro-Epps, Rami Margron as Diane, and Jennifer Paredes as Beth Wann. The West Coast premiere of Hurricane Diane by Madeleine George, directed by James Vásquez, runs February 8 – March 8, 2020 at The Old Globe. (Photo: Jim Cox)

SAN DIEGO — What we know as theatre began in Classical Greece. It is said that in the sixth century BCE, during the spring Dionysia –festival to Dionysus, the God of Wine, Agriculture and Song- someone stepped forward and said, “I am Dionysus.” And thus a new ritual was born.

By the fifth century BCE, there were contests to present the best tragic trilogies followed by short comedies to lighten the mood. Narrators addressing the audience and choruses of women commenting on the action helped move the story along. Inspired by Euripides’ Bacchae and concerned about Climate Change, Playwright Madeleine George brings a re-born Dionysus to a suburban cul de sac to meet some Real Housewives of New Jersey.

“Gods don’t die. They just change form.”

Rami Margron enters in purple robes and a golden garland. Dionysus has been reborn as Diane, who prefers the personal pronouns “they, them, and theirs.”  Diane is a landscape artist with the chutzpah to ‘follow their own vision, not their clients’. With a crocodile haircut, workboots and guns most men would envy, Margron gives Diane a brash, butch androgyny that makes them compelling.

Diane’s vision is to “re-wild” the suburbs with permaculture, taking it from manicured lawns and rose bushes to producing food, herbs and medicine “off the grid.” But Carol (Liz Wisan) is not having it. A chatty suburbanite who clips pictures from HGTV Magazine, she cares too much about resale value, “curb-appeal” and what “the girls” will think.

Jo Winiarski’s scenic design is a spacious suburban kitchen with an island in the middle. Dwelling in cookie cutter houses, it’s the same kitchen in all four homes. Renee (Opal Aladdin) is an editor for HGTV. Tired of the same floral prints and tasteful accents, she wants to move boldly into permaculture. And she’s open to some of Diane’s other ideas as well.

Depressed from her recent divorce, Beth (Jennifer Paredes) hasn’t mowed her lawn in months. Wistful with a touch of teenage rebel, Beth wants a “fairy garden” where magic spirits can sing her lonely heart to sleep.

Costume Designer Shirley Pierson clearly had the most fun with Pam (Jenn Harris), the quintessential New Jersey stereotype. Opinionated, direct and loud, Harris is a lot of fun to watch as she struts in high heels, a tiger-print dress and gaudy jewelry.

“Isn’t it possible that a storm is trying to tell you something?”

A category three hurricane is sweeping up the coast, creating chaos in this pristine neighborhood. The girls get swept up in Diane’s spell and cut loose in a kind of hippie-rock musical number by local band, Golden Howl.

A diatribe on the growing threat of climate change runs the risk of getting too preachy. But this is not that play. Hurricane Diane is a bacchanal that never takes itself too seriously. For a fun night out, come to the Old Globe and get swept up in the raucous comedy of Hurricane Diane.

Hurricane Diane is playing at the Old Globe in Balboa Park through March 8..

And that’s show-biz.

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Eric George Tauber is a freelance writer who specializes in coverage of the arts.  He may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com