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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowWhen playwright Christopher Durang is in control— and when he’s got a cast in sync with his satirical world—
the results can be hilarious. When his desire seems just to be more outrageous at every turn—
the results can be awkwardly exhausting. His anchor-less "Titanic," which
occupies the entire second half of InterAction Theatre’s "Durang-ORama" (through Feb. 14 at the IndyFringe
building, 719 E. St. Clair St., 767-7683), is an unfortunate case of the latter.
A shame, since Diane Kondrat, in the first half’s "Glass Menagerie" spoof "For
Whom the Southern Belle Tolls," gives one of the more inspired performances I’ve seen on Indy stages
in years. Kondrat could have cartooned it. But, instead, she finds the core truth of the character, providing
just enough reality to make us care about this put-upon woman saddled with two very needy kids (one of
whom has a penchant for collecting glass swizzle sticks). Sharply directed by Julia Televiak, "Southern
Belle" raises the bar to a point that the rest of "Durang-O-Rama" can’t quite reach (although the one piece
with a heart, "Funeral Parlor," featuring Kondrat and Bill Simmons, comes close.)
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