by Sylvia Blush ~

If one thing can be said about The Group Rep’s production of String of Pearls, it would be their artistic zeal. The four actresses, Michele Bernath, Katelyn Ann Clark, Lareen Faye and Sean Kathryn O’Connor, each performed with a sense of eagerness and gusto; 27 roles split amongst the fiery quad.

String of Pearls is about a strand of perfectly rounded gems exchanging ownership, and the emotional affect they bring to the women who posses them. The swaps happen over a course of 35 years, beginning with a grandmother’s wish to pass down her own string of pearls to her granddaughter who is getting married. The grandmother had given them to her own daughter who has since passed away, but they are nowhere to be found as her daughter did not pass them on before dying. Through the course of the two act play we follow the journey of the pearls as they are stolen, bequeathed, nearly lost and almost always cherished.

Thematically, Michele Lowe’s String of Pearls serves as a portal into the windows of the owner’s soul. The pearls luster changes within the context of each woman’s story as Ms. Lowe carefully constructs a seemingly random chain of events leading the pearls to their rightful owner. Infusing comedy and dramatic story-telling, the overall arc is flat and predictable, however. The early depiction of the pearls’ sexual connotation was also a common thread. Bawdy language attached to these near perfect antiquities missed its mark as Lowe’s use of vulgarity never connects on a provocative level. Although the many story lines are tightly constructed, there are ten too many lives to invest any emotional attachment. The show’s fifth actor, the pearls, then, are lost amongst the many characters.

Perhaps the biggest distraction throughout the show was the technical aspects. Rather than focusing on storytelling, it was muddled with unnecessary sound cues and costume changes.

Sound Design by Stage Manager Miguel Recendez was both obtrusive and delightful. The music played during pre-show, transitions, and intermission rivaled what you would hear at a Lilith Fair concert, but the sound effects within the scenes interrupted the flow and emotional connection with the actors. Although the design was of exceptional quality, their placement did not add to the show’s purpose.

The costumes, by the show’s director Sherry Netherland, offered no opportunity for the actors to stretch their range, which at times also felt hindered by staging choices. Often, they meandered nearly off stage to make a slight change in apparel, breaking the focus on the story.

A fine moment in the show is credited to the acting chops of Michele Bernath. Her bubbly portrayal of a 44 year old architect personified a mother struggling to maintain her individuality. It was the most honest performance of the night.

String of Pearls plays Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm through September 5, 2010.

The Lonny Chapman Theatre is located at 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood, 91601 (parking is limited within the theatre lot, but street parking is available on Cleon or Burbank.)

Tickets: General Admission is $22, Seniors and Students $17 and Groups $15.

For reservations: www.thegrouprep.com or 818-700-4878