'Out of the Mouths of Babes' outlandish fun

‘OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES’: Judith Ivey & Estelle Parsons. Photo: Carol Rosegg

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES
Written by Israel Horovitz
Directed by Barnet Kellman
Through July 31, 2016
Cherry Lane Theatre
38 Commerce Street
http://www.CherryLaneTheatre.org

By David NouNou

Comedies were once a staple on or off-Broadway at one time. Now they have become scarcer than the proverbial hen’s tooth. Reason being they are very hard to write and to make a funny play plausible and relatable is almost impossible since the advent of “dramadies,” which can be simultaneously serious and funny. The straightforward comedy has become virtually nonexistent.

However, Israel Horovitz has written that rare comedy that is genuinely funny, outlandish in reality but plausible for the theatre. Granted, there are some lines that misfire, but as a whole it is thoroughly emotive, entertaining, and enjoyable.

Making its world premiere, Out of the Mouths of Babes has nothing to do with the Bible’s New Testament, Matthew 21:16, but is the improbable plot of a screwball comedy that has a lot of heart. The premise is that former wives/girlfriend of a Sorbonne professor have come from America to Paris to pay their final respects and bury their former 100-year-old husband/lover.

Eighty-eight-year old Evelyn (Estelle Parsons) is the professor’s second wife and former student and the first to be seen in this Paris loft in which she lived with the Professor. She is confronted by 68-year-old Evvie/Snookie (Judith Ivey) who was the girlfriend and former student that broke up Evelyn’s marriage. Evvie/Snookie had a nine year on and off relationship with the professor but never married him because after all it was the 1960s and who got married back then? While these two are hashing out their differences, 40-something Janice (Angelina Fiordellisi) walks in; she was wife number three also a former student who has suicidal tendencies. By the time these three have traded their secrets and sordid pasts, in walks the lovely and young 20-something Marie-Belle (Francesca Choy-Kee), current wife and former student who has secrets to share and impart with the other three.

I told you it is a screwball comedy that also has its zany moments, with some delightful acting from this all-female ensemble. With the antics of two professionals like the superb Estelle Parsons and Judith Ivey, somehow it all seems very viable and couldn’t be more normal. These two bring the play into focus and grind it into reality. So great to still be able to see these two great ladies take the ordinary and make it extraordinary. The other two, Ms. Fiordellisi and Ms. Choy-Kee, although good, play more farfetched characters and take the plot to other worldliness.

Barnet Kellman, the director, is no stranger to comedy. He directed TV episodes of “Murphy Brown,” “Mad About You” and “Suddenly Susan.” His direction here is compact and fast-paced as he did for those sitcoms. As I mentioned before there are very few comedies written today, especially in these dire times when laughter is needed so badly, so when one does come and is enjoyable to boot, make a point to see it.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published June 19, 2016
Reviewed at press performance on June 18, 2016