The Unvarnished Truth
Theater Review by Jackie Houchin

If you're in the mood for a belly laugh, you'll want to see the Lizard Theater's new comedy-farce, THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH, written by Royce Ryton and performed by eight of the theater's resident actors.

Presented on a tiny stage, the actors move about within feet (and sometimes inches) of the audience, but this in no way hinders their focus or acting ability. It seems the "fourth wall" is substantial enough to contain the action.

Tom and Annabel (played by Justin Winterhalter and Tuncia Devon) are married and love each other very much. The play opens with them kissing passionately. But a mild disagreement begins when Tom says he loves Annabel more. Annabel disagrees - she loves Tom more. They each insist their own love is greater. Their argument turns physical and they thrash about, slugging each other and overturning furniture. Then one of them dies and the other one panics.

What follows is a mad cap parade of guests who enter the scene at their own peril: a rational police buddy ( Ruben Aguilar), a sickly mother-in-law ( Kim Aguilar) a critical literary agent ( Jay Parker), a crazed landlady ( Jantre Haskin), a suspicious police Inspector ( Sean McCaffery) and an overly excitable nurse ( Mariela Vargas). By one comical means or another, several of these die too.

The ones left living scramble to hide the bodies, which decidedly don't want to be hidden, and try to fabricate a story that will "fly" in a court of law. The truth, "the unvarnished truth" will never do. Soon even the audience is not sure what really happened.

Panic reigns hilariously and the audience hoots and howls as this funny farce reaches its very unexpected conclusion. The Lizard Theater may be little, but their shows are "mighty"... and this one is mighty entertaining.

Playing: Fridays and Saturdays through May 26, at 8:00 pm

Admission is "Pay What You Can" (Honestly!)

Call 626-403-1177 for reservations.