Dead Accounts

        Theresa Rebeck is not having a very good year. First she was fired from SMASH, the Broadway inspired NBC Drama she created. Second, her new play Dead Accounts closed after only 44 performances at The Music Box theater.

     Dead Accounts concerns the return of a somewhat prodigal son to his family home in Ohio. He has arrived suddenly, unannounced, without his wife (whom everyone hates) and with a lot of money for which he has no explanation. This is a classic style family drama. The play is very well written, for the most part. The part of Jack (played by Norbert Leo Butz) is the most plum. Though each of the supporting characters gets their moment to shine.

      The play is very funny. Most of the humor lies in the mid western family dynamic. There are some wonderfully funny scenes between Barbra and her daughter Lorna, as well is Lorna and Jack. Norbert Leo Butz was his normal manic self in this production. Someday I'd like to see him play a really mellow dude.

    Jane Houdyshell and Judy Greer were excellent in their roles of Mother and Daughter in law, respectively. Judy Greer has a wonderful comic edge that is biting and honest. Then we get to Katie Holmes, who is in her second Broadway outing. Let me say right off the bat that Katie Holmes is not a bad actress, in the sense that McDonald's doesn't make bad coffee. It's not GOOD coffee, but it's not bad coffee either.

     Katie Holmes is out of her depth. She gave the kind of performance you would expect from a really good high school or college actor. She needs a few years working in summer stock or regional theater to hone her craft before truly being ready for the Broadway stage. It also doesn't help her to be surrounded by exceptional talent. It only goes to underscore how in over her head she is.

   I would imagine that Dead Accounts will find life in the regional theater scene. If it comes to a theater near you I recommend seeing it. It's smart, fun, and a slice of life type of play worth watching. Though not quite as  good as Ms. Rebeck's Seminar which played The Golden last season, it still had a much shorter shelf life than it deserved.