Writing the family drama “Hollywood Arms” with her daughter, Carrie Hamilton, was certainly a labor of love and a healing experience for Carol Burnett. Carrie died before it was staged, and Carol worked through her grief while finishing it. As a work of art, however, it fails miserably.
Fans of Burnett may enjoy learning about her dysfunctional family — the play is based on her memoir — and there’s certainly hope to be found in Burnett overcoming her alcoholic parents and finding comedic success on TV, but the authors stick so closely to the facts that there’s little irony and no dramatic twists. That’s what the critics said, too, when it was first produced at the Goodman in Chicago and later in New York.
There is some meat, however, in the character of Louise (based on Burnett’s mother), which won Michele Pawk a Tony for best supporting actress in 2002. Here, Louise is brought to life with a gritty performance by Sharon Kay White.
Burnett was raised mostly by her grandmother, the prickly and overbearing Nanny — played with gusto by Anne Oberbroeckling — the soul to whom the signature ear tugs were directed at the end of every episode of “The Carol Burnett Show” from 1967-78.
The Burnett role is split into Young Helen, who appears in the first act (1941), and Older Helen, who appears in the second act (1951). Chloe Nosan shows a lot of spunk as the knocked-around kid trying to keep her chin up.
Michelle Merz-Hutchinson is winsome as the UCLA drama student and movie usher, whose big break comes one night when she entertains the audience during a projector malfunction, which leads to an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Director Terry Dodd makes the most of a weak script, filling in the frequent and trying blackouts with clips from period commercials, hit parade tunes and historical events. Brian Mallgrave’s detailed, bungalow-style motel is right out of an old Hollywood snapshot. The supporting cast does a workmanlike job with the melodramatic material.
Long on nostalgia and short on dynamics, “Hollywood Arms” begs for a rewrite with Louise center stage; she’s a Mama Rose (“Gypsy”) waiting to happen.
Bob Bows also reviews theater for Variety, KUVO/89.3 FM and his website, . E-mail bbows@coloradodrama.com.
“Hollywood Arms” ** (out of four stars)
Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd. Written by Carrie Hamilton and Carol Burnett. Directed by Terry Dodd. Starring Michelle Merz-Hutchinson, Anne Oberbroeckling, Sharon Kay White and Chloe Nosan. Through Nov. 23. 2 hours, 30 minutes. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. 1 p.m. Wednesdays. $30-$40. 720-898-7200 or .
Exclusive interview with Carol Burnett
 |
When Carol Burnett’s daughter, Carrie Hamilton, died, “the covers were my friends,” the comedy legend says. Burnett talks about how initial “Hollywood Arms” director Hal Prince helped her to get out of bed and finish the play she and Hamilton co-wrote together. The play, based on Burnett’s memoir, was slated to open in Chicago just a few months after Carrie’s death in 2002.
