Regional

Therese Raquin

 (Mandell Weiss Forum, La Jolla; 384 seats; $32 top)

By DON BRAUNAGEL

La Jolla Playhouse presents a drama in two acts by Neal Bell, from novel by Emile Zola; director, Michael Greif.
 
Madame Raquin - Beth Dixon
Camille - Paul Giamatti
Therese - Angie Phillips
Michaud - Tony Amendola
Olivier - Silas Weir Mitchell
Suzanne - Laurie Williams
Grivet - Kent Davis
Laurent - David Hunt

 

Riveting stories of murder, obsession and passion dominate the news these days. And now there's another one, "Therese Raquin," searing the stage at La Jolla Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Forum.

Michael Greif, who in 1995 becomes Playhouse artistic director, uses dark, potent imagery and a crackling cast -- topped by Angie Phillips in the title role -- to vivify Neal Bell's rewrite of the purple 1867 novel by Emile Zola. And, most remarkably, Greif and Bell lighten the heavy happenings with some whimsy.

This variation on the seemingly eternal theme has Therese, a hot-blooded dreamer, miserably wed to her sickly cousin, Camille. Along comes handsome hunk Laurent, and flirtatious sparks soon turn into passionate fires. Camille must, in Laurent's words, "go away." So they help him do so, off a boat in the river.

After the murder, they avoid assignations for a year, to avert suspicion. Seeing Therese's dolor, people suggest that she marry again, and everyone, including Camille's still-despondent mother, agrees that a good match would be Laurent.

But both remain wracked with guilt, and Therese's former mother-in-law, for whom she's caring, suffers a stroke; her mute presence leaves the couple haunted by the living as well as the dead, and again they see only one way out.

Greif has swathed the stage in gloom and darkness. Kenneth Posner's lighting is largely indirectly angled, making it thick with shadows.

Greif also brings in Grand Guignol touches.

Dreariness notwithstanding, Greif moves the story at a headline-news pace, ending often-short scenes with the actors abruptly stopping, then setting up the next segment with brisk efficiency.

Notable performances come from Paul Giamatti as the wimpy Camille and Tony Amendola and Kent Davis as two of the regular domino players and commentators. As Madame Raquin, Beth Dixon builds surely into a commanding presence.

Then there's Phillips. Starting with an abstracted young-girl quality, she evolves impressively into frustrated wife, risk-it-all adulterer and, finally, an angry wretch.

Scenic design, Marina Draghici; costumes, Mark Wendland; lighting, Kenneth Posner; sound, Nathan Birnbaum; dramaturgy, Robert Blacker. Opened July 10, 1994; reviewed July 10; runs through Aug. 21. Running time: 2 hrs., 30 mins.