“RIPCORD” AT ROUSTABOUT’S … NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.

 Move over Oscar and Felix (of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple”), make way for Abby and Marilyn (of David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Ripcord”). “Ripcord” is “The Odd Couple” on steroids so hang on to your hats! It doesn’t  get any better than this.

Roustabouts Theatre Company, under the direction of funny man himself, Phil Johnson, is currently mounting Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Ripcord”. It  is a fast paced, grief riddled, oft devil may care comedy about two women who share a room in an assisted living facility in New Jersey. Simple? Right? Nothing about Lindsay-Abaire’s plays (Kimberly Akimbo” , “Rabbit Hole”) are simple, so dash that from your minds. 

Linda Libby, John DeCarlo and Eileen Bowman

I’m sure you have experimented with the way magnets attract and repel. Abby Binder (Linda Libby) and Marilyn Dunn (Eileen Bowman) are of the latter.  Much to Abby’s chagrin, she wants Marilyn out of her room (as Greta Garbo says, “to be alone”) and tries to make Marilyn’s life hell on wheels.  She’s nasty, cranky, introverted and bitter; ergo, no one wants to room with her either. Marilyn, on the other hand broke the barrier by moving into  and sharing the room with Abby and as far as we know, just does her ‘thing’.  She is cheerful, happy and overly talkative which drives Abby deeper into isolation. Into this abyss, Scotty, (John DeCarlo) the male nurse, brings a ray of sunshine, gives them their meds and defuses any and all grumbling…for the time being. 

At some point, the two women  find themselves competing as to who can be the biggest practical joker with outrageous pranks so that one will finally get tired and leave the room to the ‘victor’. That means the winner gets the bed nearest the window with a beautiful view of the gardens. 

Matthew Javier, Linda Libby, Eileen Bowman, Samantha Ginn

They go through one up-man-ship after another, looking into others’ backgrounds while  playing silly and not so silly tricks on one another, until  one day Marilyn’s daughter Colleen (Sam Ginn) pays a visit to her mother and all hell breaks loose. Now, if you are ready for the funny farm, keep your eyes posted on Ginn’s Colleen. She is all over the place helping her mother to win the war of gotcha’s. 

Blessed with an amazingly talented cast, and for the better half of 2 and ½  hours, Johnson has manages to keep us entertained while pulling the ripcord on uncomfortable situations as domestic violence, familial estrangements,  hidden agendas and possibly imminent death.

Samantha Ginn, Linda Libby and Eileen Bowman

Linda Libby, no stranger to all types of characters, almost wants us not to like her. As the script goes, she is incorrigible and just plain mean spirited. 

As for Ms. Bowman, or as she is in the play, Merry Sunshine, cotton candy, lollipops and chocolate, is so over the moon with optimism that it is catchy. Both women draw us in to their worlds for real and the chemistry doesn’t let us down.  

Samantha Ginn's, madcap fun follows her wherever she goes. She is smart, funny and yes, very serious about her art. 

John DeCarlo shines in this role as the male assistant,  and fixer of all trades.

Linda Libby and Eileen Bowman

Supporting, Matthew Javier and  Eddie Lukovic do yeoman’s work playing a variety of characters. 

Heather K. Nunn designed the costumes fitting for each characters: drab monochromatic colors for Abby and bright flowing frocks for Marilyn. David Kievit designed the sets and does wonders with the projections especially the haunted house and airplane scenes.  Ted Leib designed the sound. Bonnie Durben is responsible for the props and set dressings and Michelle Miles for the lighting. Jessamyn Foster is stage manager.  

Linda Libby and Eileen Bowman

Leaving the theatre, I was left with opposing thoughts: I was still chuckling under my breath at some of the antics between Abby and Marilyn, yet muddled in my thoughts about how real his characters so often are, and how they deal with their life’s predicaments. Lindsay-Abaire does this to us!

As an afterthought: the back and forth between Abby and Marilyn went on way too long. I was relieved when daughter Colleen came into the picture. 

Get ready for some fun and games; some serious insights to the human animal and enjoy.

See you at the theatre. 

When:  Runs through Nov. 1. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays

Where: The Roustabouts Theatre Co. at Scripps Ranch Theatre, Legler-Benbough Theatre at Alliant International University, 9783 Avenue of Nations, San Diego

Tickets: $45, general; $10, students

Photo: Michael Pearce

Online: theroustabouts.org/ripcord