Politics. Other than hurricanes and the economy, it's all we've been hearing about, 24/7, for way too long. Sure, political contests have a drama all their own (pitbull hockey mom vs. silver-tongued senator for the veep job, anyone?), but if you're going to escape to the theater, does a play involving politicians both dead and alive sound like a laugh riot?

Lying in State, the final show in the Caldwell Theatre Company's three-play summer season, is definitely not to the political-comedy genre what the brilliant Noises Off is to farce. But despite the dead spots and flaws in David C. Hyer's script, now and then Lying in State really does get an audience howling with laughter.

Credit director Michael Hall for his canny casting. Lines that might land with a thud were an average actor to say them take wing when Allan Baker or Angie Radosh or John Felix is doing the talking. All seven actors work like demons to keep this flimsy soufflé of a play from collapsing -- and darned if they don't succeed.

As its title suggests, Lying in State is about state-level political skulduggery. A state senator named Ed has wound up at a pretty pink funeral home -- unfortunately, inside the casket -- after accidentally shooting himself. The story that his campaign manager Herb (Baker) is only too happy to confirm is that Ed died heroically during a home invasion. What he's not saying is that the invaders were large purple squirrels, the products of Ed's booze-drenched imagination.

Gathering to mourn the ''hero'' and/or position themselves to run for his senate seat are Edna (Laura Turnbull), his sensible ex-wife, a woman who has lost lots of weight and her stutter; Buttons (Kim Ostrenko, trapped in two awful costumes by designer T. Michael Hall), Ed's less-than-brainy ex-stripper girlfriend; and Harry (Felix), Ed's equally booze-loving big bro. On the political side are Herb, the governor's son Wally (John Bixler) and Governor Fred (Dennis Creaghan), a man who has his own history with Buttons. Popping in from the next parlor over is Margo (Radosh), a pill-gobbling widow with a secret she'll never tell (unless the pills finally kick in).

Silly? Sure. But these actors mine every laugh, and probably a few that even Hyer didn't imagine. Yes, the late playwright needlessly complicated the script with too much talk about characters who never appear, and he might have nudged the play more firmly toward farce and achieved a greater payoff. A room full of guffawing, hooting, screeching theatergoers would probably beg to differ.

Join the discussion

Note: If this is your first time using our NEW commenting system, you will have to LOG OUT and then LOG BACK IN.

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.CommentBody@

@Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@