If the road “What we could hold, the holly or one another?” hadn’t already been taken by The Lion In Winter, it might make a becoming quip stuffed someplace in Leslye Headland’s deliriously reducing Cult of Love, opening tonight on Broadway.
Granted, this dysfunctional household vacation is already stuffed to the garlanded mantlepiece with emotional jabs and explosive resentments, however another well-honed jibe couldn’t harm. It’s that form of play.
A Second Stage Theater manufacturing steered like a fast-moving sleigh by director Trip Cullman, Cult Of Love boasts a superb forged (headed by Zachary Quinto, Mare Winningham, David Rasche and, in a formidable Broadway debut, Star Wars: The Acolyte‘s Rebecca Henderson) that pulls off a well-known state of affairs with sudden freshness.
The place is a lovely Connecticut farmhouse adorned to a Christmas fare-thee-well (John Lee Beatty designed the attractive set, with Heather Gilbert contributing the festive lighting), the time is Christmas Eve and the Dahl household is of the variability that comes collectively grudgingly and toting extra animosity than items.
Part of a collection of Headland performs dedicated to the seven lethal sins, Cult Of Love will get the distinction of pridefulness, and that specific transgression makes itself recognized in each deliciously holier-than-thou perspective every member of this raised-Christian household brings to the celebration.
For starters, there’s mother Ginny (Winningham) and pop Bill (Rasche), who’ve raised their 4 children in a strict, socially remoted suburban Christian dwelling. Bill is the extra easygoing of the 2, to the purpose of being indifferent (and, it’s suspected, experiencing early indicators of dementia). Ginny is controlling, demanding of floor perfection and not-so-subtly judgmental (assume Mary Tyler Moore in Ordinary People through August: Osage County.)
And Ginny has tons to hold her judgements on. Eldest son Mark (Quinto) has been a black sheep ever since ditching plans of the priesthood for regulation college (and atheism). He’s married to Rachel (Molly Bernard), previously of the Jewish religion, now transformed to Christianity however no extra a real believer than her husband. Her go-along-to-get-along demeanor has settled right into a boiling resentment on the household’s barely disguised anti-semitism.
The forged of ‘Cult Of Love’
Joan Marcus
Next up is Evie (Henderson) and her (secretly) pregnant spouse Pippa (Roberta Colindrez). Mom Ginny chooses to consider that Evie isn’t actually homosexual, regardless of all proof on the contrary, however the overt homophobia is left to youngest Dahl daughter Diana (Shailene Woodley) and her preacher husband James (Christopher Lowell), neither of whom can resist speak of hellfire and damnation couched in loving concern.
Finally, there’s the late-to-the-party Johnny (Christopher Sears), a free-spirited recovering heroin addict who brings alongside his fellow 12-stepper Loren (Barbie Ferreira), the outsider and truth-teller whose appalled on the hateful spiritual vitriol spewed by Diana.
Indeed, the tongues-speaking, self-proclaimed prophet Diana is the first pot-stirrer of the household, even because it turns into all too clear that her religiosity masks some severe (although, within the writing, not altogether convincing) psychosis.
Headland, the Russian Doll co-creator and Star Wars: The Acolyte creator making her Broadway debut with Cult Of Love, is adept at maintaining the dialogue crisp, humorous and fast-moving, even when the pile-up of personalities, crises, conflicts and really arduous emotions grows schematic and a bit predictable. While Cult Of Love lacks the superior energy of, say, final season’s household reunion drama Appropriate, it definitely has the energy of its convictions (and occasional compassions), and maintains our curiosity from begin to end.
Only within the well-performed musical interludes – this can be a household that by no means met an instrument it couldn’t strum or drum – does Cult Of Love really feel in want of some enhancing. The household’s Christmas carol harmonizing makes for a beautiful metaphor for the familial perfection so desired by mother and pop (and the inclusion of songs by Fleet Foxes and Sufjan Stevens is a pleasant contact) however the grudging participation by a few of the clan may replicate some impatience amongst a minimum of a part of the viewers. As fascinating as Cult Of Love could be, it might additionally really feel as insistent as a picture-perfect mom.
Title: Cult Of Love
Venue: Broadway’s Helen Hayes Theater
Written By: Leslye Headland
Directed By: Trip Cullman
Cast: Molly Bernard, Roberta Colindrez, Barbie Ferreira, Rebecca Henderson, Christopher Lowell, Zachary Quinto, David Rasche, Christopher Sears, Mare Winningham, Shailene Woodley
Running time: 1 hr 45 min (no intermission)
