Lisa Kron's "Well," a story of mothers and daughters, opens at Repertory Actors Theatre

Theater Review |

"This is not about me and my mother," the woman onstage called Lisa keeps insisting, with mounting frustration.

But of course, you instantly know this play is all about a mother and daughter.

It is also a cheeky, fourth-wall-smashing seriocomedy about the collision of art and life. And, for good measure, it reminds us of the infinite, confounding complexity of human beings — especially your own parents.

Welcome to "Well," the tricky and insightful 2006 Tony Award-nominated play by Lisa Kron. The fringe troupe Repertory Actors Theatre (ReACT) is introducing script in a spare but solid production at Richard Hugo House, staged by David Hsieh and ShawnJ West.

With affection, and many playful theatrical quirks, Kron confronts in "Well" the genre of solo stage memoir she's had success with. (Kron performed her acclaimed piece "2.5 Minute Ride," at ACT Theatre in 2000).

"Well" niftily stands the popular biodrama genre on its ear. Kron's stage persona, also called Lisa and played intently here by Roberta Furst, spouts the clichés of her trade. She babbles earnestly about "alternate realities" and "theatrical constructs" and exploring "universal" concerns.

But there's a dowdy, physically deflated older lady parked onstage in a well-worn recliner chair, who is having none of it.

She is Lisa's mother, Ann (endearingly played by Walayn Sharples), a semi-invalid chronically fighting insomnia, allergies and a host of other ailments. And she is a real buttinski.

Ann offers the audience refreshments, like any good Midwest hostess. She charms and distracts the ensemble of actors Lisa has assembled to convey her story.

And she corrects Lisa's narrative, with her own version of her years as an unsung but valiant crusader for racial integration in a Lansing, Mich., community.

"Well" plays gentle havoc with the (dare I say "universal") tendency to oversimplify the parts of our past we can't get a grip on.

Lisa, a physically robust person who overcame illness, can't square why her mother is a perpetual physical wreck. And for all her liberal scruples, Lisa is still smarting from the childhood taunting of a black schoolmate, portrayed with bravado by La'Chris Jordan.

Also neatly playing figments from Lisa's past (that is, the actors playing the actors playing those characters) are Ellen Dessler, Marcel Davis and Gordon Hendrickson.

Furst has fine comic timing, and she maintains the intensity of Lisa's quest. But she needs more variety in how she expresses Lisa's mounting consternation and annoyance.

The best role in "Well," however, is that of Ann. Sharples transmits, in word and deportment, all we need to know about this lady's kindness, her exhaustion, her courage and why you'd be both proud and burdened to have her as your mom.

Misha Berson: mberson@seattletimes.com