Zach Scott Theatre's newest production, "The Clean House" by Sarah Ruhl, concerns a Brazilian housekeeper caught in the middle of a scandalous affair. At first, this story sounds ripped from any daytime soap opera. In reality, "The Clean House" is a comedic romp about finding love, yourself and the value of a really good joke.
Matilde (Smaranda Ciceu) is a Brazilian housekeeper for Lane (Lauren Lane) and her husband Charles (Tom Green), who are doctors at the same hospital. Matilde has dreams of becoming a comedian and, ironically, doesn't really like cleaning. Meanwhile, Lane's neurotic sister Virginia (Barbara Chisholm) secretly visits Lane's house to clean for Matilde. Everything falls apart when Charles brings one of his patients, Ana (Alicia Kaplan), home and announces they're soul mates. Throughout all this, Matilde attempts to construct the perfect joke.
The set is mostly white, creating a clinical atmosphere that contrasts well with the chaos happening on stage. A projection of some of the stage directions accompanies the action in the scenes, giving insight into particularly tender moments and context to some of the more absurd. The comedic moments themselves never seem unnatural or awkward, and instead strengthened the more dramatic themes of the play. This masterful use of language is a testament to the talent of Ruhl, who manages to pluck at the audience's heartstrings as often as she jostles their funny bone.
Performances by the entire cast draw from Ruhl's flawless dialogue to create genuine characters. Interaction between characters is energized and full, leaving no silence or glance empty of meaning. Lane and Virginia have a clear sibling rivalry, but the love between the characters is always apparent in the terrifying moments of conflict. Matilde tells her jokes in Portuguese, and even though no translation is provided, the punchline somehow always lands. The love between Charles and Ana is goofy and playful, yet touchingly sincere even at the most absurd of times.
While love, conflict, forgiveness and jokes are common elements in today's art, "The Clean House" uses them expertly and sincerely, creating a refreshing performance sure to be received well by any audience.
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