Review: Meet the Wilsons
The Victory Theatre, 2325 Victory Bl., Burbank, 818-841-5421
by Loren Lester
You might be led to believe that the show is some sort of send-up of the sitcom genre. That’s what the publicity suggests, and as you enter the theatre you’ll hear famous T.V. show themes as well as a theme song for the Wilsons themselves. There’s the dramatic mom, the working dad, the perfect daughter, the rebellious son, the homely suburban set (designed by D. Marre Bookwalter), but neither the characters nor their lives bear any resemblance to any T.V. family you’ve ever seen.
The show becomes more successful when it abandons its premise and concentrates on being an old dark farce. There are some sterling comic performances here. The actors and director Jules Aaron know how to evoke a lot of laughs, playing the heightened reality of their absurd situations with complete conviction and believability. Particular standouts are Ruth de Sosa as the eccentric daughter who serves as the story’s catalyst, and Matt Walker as the nerdy bully boyfriend.
They aren’t the Cleavers, nor are they the Bradys, and although there are gimmicks, the T.V. conceit just doesn’t hold. Only when the show forgets its premise and gets to the real human comedy do we become genuinely engaged. Cheryl Anderson and Tom Ormeny deliver memorable performances, as do Kennedy and Gregory Thinway in support. ♦