A hilarious clash of wackos on Broadway…

Theater review

THE BALUSTERS

One hour and 50 minutes, with no intermission. At the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 W. forty seventh Street.

It’s the Battle of the Affluent! 

Or, at any charge, the latest Battle of the Affluent.

David Lindsay-Abaire’s bracingly humorous new HOA play “The Balusters,” which opened Tuesday at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, is without a doubt kissing cousins with Tracy Letts’ comparable “The Minutes” and Jonathan Spector’s “Eureka Day.” 

After all, it takes a particular kind of particular person to need to run for the board of a Montessori faculty, a small-town metropolis council or a group that makes choices for a dear neighborhood. Those contentious rooms are populated with strong-willed loudmouths who either demand change or sturdily keep the established order. Typically, they’re united in their hypocrisy.

The “meeting play” is nothing new — hiya, “12 Angry Men” — but it’s the popular format of the day for confronting altering instances and incorporating headlines without hitting audiences over the pinnacle with them. Wokeness, privilege and generational variations reliably pop up, and seemingly tiny initiatives masks deeply held prejudices. Every scene is a struggle. 

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All of those scorching buttons are pressed with gusto in Lindsay-Abaire’s comedy, set at an escalating collection of householders affiliation gatherings in a grand front room of a historic, not-quite-gated neighborhood. Compared with the reveals by Letts and Spector, “The Balusters” has by far the least to say. It’s actually not a provocative talker. There’s nothing left to focus on at dinner afterward, since the play settles its arguments all by itself by curtain.

But what makes “The Balusters” such super enjoyable are the brilliantly forged debaters. Lindsay-Abaire’s assortment of oddballs is a jury obligation lineup of eccentric personalities that, the more they spar, the louder we chortle.

“The Balusters” is set during a contentious collection of householders affiliation conferences. Courtesy of Jeremy Daniel

“You’re sure you’re ready for these people?” asks affiliation VP Melissa (Jeena Yi) to new resident and host Kyra (Anika Noni Rose). 

She doesn’t know the half of it.

Oldest member Penny (Marylouise Burke) arrives early to stake her declare on her most popular seat that’s closest to the prez, Elliot (Richard Thomas). The incomparable Burke has a kindly voice that says cookies are in the oven and an angle that suggests there’s a shiv in her pocket. Crafty Penny is aware of Ruth, a woman who lunches, would possibly screw her over and steal her chair.

Penny (Marylouise Burke) arrives early to declare her seat. Courtesy of Jeremy Daniel

And she’s in all probability proper. Tart-tongued Ruth, performed as battery acid in the form of a lady by the addictive Margaret Colin, rolls in carrying a rabbit fur coat particularly to rile up youthful Willow (Kayli Carter), a self-righteous PETA member.

“There are always plenty of rabbits,” Ruth dryly remarks. “That’s kinda their thing.”

The committee is rounded out by anxious Alan (Michael Esper), right-leaning contractor Ricardo (Isaac Rosario) and homosexual journey author Brooks (Carl Clemons-Hopkins). They start out with some restraint, and step by step, the gloves come off.

Kyra (Anika Noni Rose) merely needs to have a stop signal put in at a harmful intersection. Courtesy of Jeremy Daniel

Always hovering is Kyra’s genial housekeeper, Luz (Maria-Christina Oliveras), who is aware of secrets and techniques about all of them and conceals some of her own.

The members are right here, so the outwardly innocuous issue Kyra proposes to the room — and particularly motionless, grandfatherly Elliot — is placing up a stop signal at the harmful intersection exterior her home. Car crashes have gotten a common incidence. A no-brainer, proper?

Hardly. That will block the pristine and unobstructed view of the esplanade, Elliot counters. The pair’s first head-to-head commences a struggle that might destroy the group ostensibly meant to improve and stand up for Vernon Point.

Ruth (Margaret Colin) likes to chide PETA member Willow (Kayli Carter). Courtesy of Jeremy Daniel

Line by line and second by second, “The Balusters” is an engrossing and fulfilling watch, fueled by Lindsay-Abaire’s rude humor and the forged’s sparky connectivity and prepared embrace of the bonkers. Director Kenny Leon exactly paces the comedy and will get a string of howls for his efforts.

When more broadly thought of, as the author turns his consideration to critical points somewhat than fast jabs at the tradition wars, the play falters some. Because of all the giggles, I nearly forgot the show was building to something of substance. 

Well, it tries to, and that is “The Balusters” at its least satisfying. The conclusions are apparent because they’ve been arrived at many, many instances before, and the 2 main opponents are pancake flat. One is sweet, one is dangerous, bingo bango. I obtained the sense that Lindsay-Abaire, who has no concern with his punchlines, was reluctant to give Kyra any flaws at all. 

And the climax, as written and staged, is overcooked nearly to the purpose of being inedible. 

But with its witty and gutsy jokes and stellar comedic performances from Burke and Colin, “The Balusters” is a Broadway assembly at which you’ll need to yell, “Here!”

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