Suburban Motel all about quality
By LEAH PRESTAYKO
Medicine Hat 
News
The only problem with the debut production of Suburban Motel: Problem Child was the weak crowd size.
But as director
Karen Cunningham said in introducing the play, "It's about quality not quantity."
The production itself was all about quality and is sure to bring in larger crowds as word gets around.
One of George F. Walker's six one-act plays set in the same suburban motel room, Problem Child tells the tale of a couple, who are a little more than down on their luck, and their struggle to get their infant daughter back from social services.
Starring Jim Rissling as RJ and
Clare Lapinksie as Denise, the play looks at the division of the world -- at least as it is seen by RJ and Denise -- between the lucky and the unlucky, the haves and the have-nots. At the same time, some of the characters face the struggle of determining whether they should or shouldn't give two hoots about anything.
Running through the play is the theme of justice, what it is, what it means to different parties and how it feels to be without it.
As RJ and Denise meet with the social worker responsible for their case, their
situation only proceeds to go downhill, a situation they bring upon themselves.
RJ spends much of his time watching daytime talk shows, concerning himself more with the problems of the shows' guests than with his own problems. At one point he ironically says the TV characters need a reality check. He does his best to keep Denise optimistic and positive, only to see her continually shoot down his efforts.
Rissling's portrayal of RJ is one any director would dream of; he brings sincerity and a genuineness to the character. Lapinskie played her role well, at times with such clarity a viewer would do anything to help her get her child back.
The two other characters in the play, though just as important to the story and the quality of the show, were Phillie, the drunken hotel manager played by David Stewart, and
Helen, the social worker played by Carol Beatty.
Stewart's character brought levity to an otherwise dark play and great laughter from the crowd. The story would be much less enjoyable without him.
Beatty brought with her the traits everyone expects to find in the stereotypical social worker and played the role to a tee, she brings the moderate, reasonable, polite values her character pushes for to the stage with ease.
Though a somewhat heavy play, it was none the less one worth watching. Paired with the more humourous Suburban Motel: Criminal Genius, the Fut in the Hat production of two of Walker's plays is guaranteed to be enjoyed by all who enjoy live theatre and can handle a fair bit of foul language. (Criminal Genius, the second play to hit the stage, could not be viewed and reviewed in time for deadline.)
The audience will especially enjoy the intimate setting of the Cultural Centre's Black Box Theatre perfect for this play, it's like sitting at the edge of the motel room.
Norm Foster's romp about the Self-Help industry was called "a sensational black hearted farce" by the Hamilton Spectator, and is Fut's offering for our Summer production.
