Harold Blackburn (Michael Rothhaar) is a Reagan-loving alpha-male father who hopes to become India’s next ambassador. Why not, he thinks. He has “run the same company for 34 years” and has been “married to the same woman for 25.” Not only that, but he’s a “solid, serious and upstanding” man. The only problem is that before he is offered the ambassadorship, he must wine and dine influential Indians at his house, but his daughter has different plans for the evening. Starting slowly, “The Indians Are Coming to Dinner” eventually quickens its pace and fluidly evolves into an introspective and hilarious drama-comedy about a dysfunctional San Franciscan family.
Written by Jennifer W. Rowland, “The Indians” features a “Who’s on First” comedy routine. Clever puns and quick conversations reign supreme. A myriad of misunderstandings also arise from the intersection of different cultures: Caucasian, Indian and Chinese. To make the Indians feel more at home, the Blackburn family unsuccessfully attempts to recreate traditional Indian vegetarian dishes and cookware, while the Blackburn’s cook, Woo (Peter Chen), feigns ignorant to the English language. As a result, cultural missteps emerge, and the audience muses in the characters’ fatal errors.
For all the hysterical laughter that the play invokes, “The Indians” also has a darker, more serious side. The father’s life is falling apart in front of the audience’s eyes. His son easily raises a hand against his father, while his daughter defiantly resolves to never return to San Francisco. Finally, his wife seriously considers divorce as an answer to the couple’s marital problems. He cannot keep it together any longer, and his defunct heart pays the price. In addition to evoking pity, Harold’s downward spiral demonstrates that every strong man needs positive self-assurance, as well as
Playing Lynn Blackburn, Sara Newman shines as Harold’s wife. Encapsulating the character’s nuances, Newman perfectly illustrates the oblivious housewife whose occasional hyper-perception is awe-inspiring. In addition to using Lynn to show how Harold’s life is falling apart, Rowland depicts Lynn as a stereotypical American, uninformed of other cultures. Serving fish to vegetarians, Newman innocently claims that fish “isn’t meat.” Delivering both satirical and dramatic lines, Newman reveals her versatility as an actress and her talent for the trade.
Thanks to Tom Buderwitz’s incredible vision, the complicated set design adds another layer of credibility to the production. Set in a San Franciscan cookie-cutter home, the play shows the inner workings of a dysfunctional family. Instead of showing one room or two, the set design allows the audience to look into an entire two-story house, including each character’s bedroom. Family portraits and pictures line the clean, contemporary walls, while 1980s posters hang from floor to ceiling in the siblings’ bedrooms. Unique and exceptional, the set design completes the story without becoming overpowering or overbearing.
A combination of clever writing and outstanding casting leads to a successful production of “The Indians Are Coming to Dinner”. Although Rowland could have left the play as a pure comedy, she attempts to divine a greater meaning out of Harold’s downfall. Even if “history is calling,” Rowland wants the audience to step back and to closely listen: What if the call isn’t for us?
“The Indians Are Coming to Dinner” is playing at the Pacific Resident Theatre until March 25. Ticket prices range from $20 to $28. The theater is located at 703 Venice Blvd. in Venice.
Natalia Evdokimova has been involved with theater throughout her life and has reviewed theatrical productions for local and citywide publications since 2005.