Introduced by “God Save the King,” British seeming protaganists Mr. and Mrs. Smith stand together and speak directly to the audience. In fact, one very new thing in Alex Rocamora’s production of Eugene Ionesco’s absurd classic, The Bald Soprano, is that all the characters line up for what seems like today’s interactive theater but may also be an old fashioned carnival or burlesque act. The main thing I noticed that the subtitle predicted I would not have seen before is most of the actors in white face and formal black dress. Mary, the Maid, is the exception with no standard makeup and a bright red outfit. That Mary (attractive, bright Nell Darmourni) proclaims she’s “good” and holds placards commenting on various scenes suggests she’s a voice from the social class of the world of work and someone who knows who and what the Smiths really are. This is important as the Smiths launch a cycle of miscommunication and absurdities. After the Martins have entered this “circle” as guests, perhaps uninvited, dialogue and meaning implode. There’s sitting and wondering about their relationships and a daughter. Each couple questions the other’s veracity. Do they know what truth is? Guillaume Bendit comes from the outside world as the seemingly stalwart Fireman who finds no real fire to put out. The only fire in the Smiths’ home is a metaphorical one, as Mary has been in love with him. Is she still? A mystery, not even to be revealed in her poetry. A metaphorical fire that the Fireman actually lights is his comment about a bald soprano, which affects the couples strongly. Another mystery: What does the bald soprano have to do with his going to another fire and the couples’ wishing him luck with it? The actors playing each of the two couples do a great job of speeding up their many final comments, mostly boasts about what they know and can do, individually and together. It’s unsure if they end up just fighting or winning or simply continue in a more hectic manner by screaming. Finally, have the Martin’s replaced the Smiths or just duplicated them? One of Mary’s placards should definitely settle the matter. But is anything to be believed? Despite the mysteries, the reason Ionesco’s play continues to be a classic that is not just museum theater is that the disturbing attitudes and problems depicted remain relevant to those of today.
