Parasite Drag by Mark Roberts, directed by Stephen Rothman, at Shakespeare & Company through September 2, by Michael Miller

Gene (Josh Aaron McCabe), Susie (Kate Abruzzese), Ronnie (Jason Askpey) and Joellen (Elizabeth Aspenlieder) at table. Photo © 2012 Kevin Sprague

Parasite Drag

by Mark Roberts
directed by Stephen Rothman

June 20–September 2
Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre

Cast:
Kate Abbruzzese – Susie
Elizabeth Aspenlieder – Joellen
Jason Asprey – Ronnie
Josh Aaron McCabe – Gene

The midwestern family, hardly one of the United States’ more perfect contributions to civilization, has taken its share of abuse from writers since before Mark Twain’s time. In recent years, Tracy Letts, with hisAugust: Osage County, started something of an industry for himself in the theatrical exploitation of this somewhat over-ripe institution, but he has by no means cornered the market. The American — not only the midwestern — family remains a gift that keeps on giving. After so many years of hearing the gospel of the religious right, the Tea Party, and their like, those of us who are not in the fold are all too ready to join in a good sardonic laugh, sneer, or horror show on the subject, especially if it includes a misguided, or, better, corrupt evangelical clergyman. Josh Aaron McCabe’s character, Gene, is not himself corrupt, but he arose from corruption. Although in the end, he is only pathetic, for much of the play he’s the sort of character we want to bombard with rotten vegetables. In any case, there are enough sceptics on family values in the Berkshires to guarantee a quorum for Mark Roberts’ entertainment about two brothers, their wives, and their mortally ill sister, who never appears on stage, but is the reason for their coming together.

Read the full review on the Berkshire Review, an International Journal for the Arts!