“The Big Meal” will definitely keep your attention in a Bay Area premier that has eight absolutely superlative actors literally leaping into 26 different roles. The Rep has been doing this a lot lately—and doing it well—but “The Big Meal” has become the ultimate in excellent and swift character changes.
Playwright Dan LaFrank takes us on a 90-minute whirlwind look at life.
Children become their mom and dad and grandmother and granddad with all the bumps and grinds of life as time passes in a blink of an eye and the ping of a piano key. There are moments that it all becomes a little overwhelming until you get into the rhythm of the changes and then it all becomes quite clear. The beginning and the ultimate end we all know is coming is a little unnerving for a moment but emotionally honest.
Kirsten Brandt directs with a tight fist. There is no room to fiddle around with the fast-moving dynamics. Thornton Wilder tried this type of theatre of whisking characters through life in “The Long Christmas Dinner” where he moved people from youngsters to 90 years in 30 minutes. Orson Welles used this format in a part of “Citizen Kane.” Le Frank’s “The Big Meal” holds its own and reveals a depth of emotion that wome of us may not know we had.
Nina Ball’s restaurant set hits its mark. Lighting by Kurt Lendsman and sound by Jeff Mokus with costumes by Shannon Sigman are the usual five-star delivery of San Jose Rep’s reputation.
For an evening of well-done, startling reality, “The Big Meal” serves up all the courses with gusto.
