HIGH by Matthew Lombardo, directed by Rob Ruggiero (Ann Cady Scott/Timothy J. Hampton/Repertory Theatre of St. Louis). At the Royal Alexandra Theatre (260 King West). Runs to Sunday (May 13), Thursday-Saturday 8 pm, Sunday 7 pm, matinees Saturday-Sunday 2 pm. $50-$150. 416-872-1212. See listing. Rating: NN
Fine performance, okay role, mediocre play.
You’ll likely be thinking that as you leave High, starring Kathleen Turner as a tough-as-nails nun who’s tasked with getting a drug-addicted 19-year-old male prostitute clean.
The nun’s name is Sister Jamison Connelly – or Sister Jamie – and her goal is complicated by the fact that she has a history of substance abuse herself. So as she goes through the stations of the cross-addicted in Matthew Lombardo’s unsubtle script, you just know that many painful truths about her past will be unveiled in the second act.
Fortunately, Sister Jamie has a penchant for four-letter words and raunchy one-liners, and early on Turner delivers these in her foghorn-like voice with gusto and a pro’s perfect timing. She’s just as watchable selling the show’s more pretentious moments, a series of quasi-philosophical monologues.
And when Jamie has to get down and dirty with her young charge (a snaky, mistrustful Evan Jonigkeit), Turner’s up to the task, disappearing into the skin of her character and suggesting layers and layers of personal pain.
Alas, Lombardo’s script isn’t as good as Turner’s performance. It’s your basic movie-of-the-week material, filled with exposition in the opening scenes and then lurid twists and turns that make little sense and aren’t developed.
Director Rob Ruggiero stages the action on David Gallo’s spare set with minimal fuss, although too many scenes feel like acting exercises.
You won’t get high on High.
