The title might be off-putting, and not necessarily because of its coarseness, though that does tend to reduce theaters and some publications to partial spelling (e.g., "The Motherf**ker with the Hat," as it's rendered on posters and programs). But the title smacks of smugness on the part of the playwright, so you might have to be won over by the play at GableStage in South Florida.
You will be. It turns out playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis is up to something serious in this play that is nonstop, laugh-out-loud funny in its Southeastern premier in Coral Gables. Under GableStage producing artistic director Joseph Adler, the five-member cast doesn’t miss a beat or a laugh. The play emerges as a brisk, foul-mouthed, 95 minutes with characters struggling with addiction, trust and each other. It’s a hoot and a heart-breaker, and it’s likely to strike home with anyone over, say, 30.
The story: An elated Jackie (Arturo Fernandez), just out of prison and struggling to remain sober, arrives back at the New York apartment of coke-snorting Veronica (Gladys Ramirez), his sweetheart since eighth grade, with flowers and the promise of a job. Happiness disappears when he spots a man’s hat on the nightstand (under the Puerto Rican flag on Lyle Baskin’s efficient set). Veronica denies cheating on him. Jackie heads to the home of Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor Ralph D. and his wife, Victoria, (Ethan Henry and Betsy Graver) and eventually to the cafe of Cousin Julio (Alex Alvarez). There is a gun involved, and just-about-nonstop cursing by all the characters.
Lighting by Jeff Quinn and sound and electronic music by Matt Corey combine to punctuate the action with blackouts between scenes.
