Crimes of the Heart: A Review

Just like in film, theater can delve into a wide variety of genres.  Shakespeare dabbled in fantasy,  and J.B. Priestly explored Science Fiction with Time and the Conways.  With Crimes of the Heart, playwright Beth Henley essentially created, for the stage, the type of movie you would typically find on the Hallmark Channel or on Lifetime, commonly known as the “Chick Flick”.

The play follows the three Magrath sisters as they convene at their Grandaddy’s home in Mississippi, after one of the sisters, Babe, shoots her husband.  What follows is heartbreak, laughter, tender moments, lots of hugging, and some dark humor.

The performers perform the play well enough, though at times, their Southern accents feel a bit heavy handed.  Their characters seem well supported by motivation, and they never seemed lost on the stage.  Sheri Lee Miller’s direction was adequate, and fit the script nicely.  While all this would normally mean an instant recommendation, the play itself is going to be the deciding factor in your personal enjoyment of the production.  The play sometimes feels like it goes from 0 to 60 (and back again) in seconds.  That, and the overwrought melodrama inherent in the script will not be everyone’s cup of tea.  As mentioned above, this would not be out of place in Lifetime’s general lineup.  If that is what you enjoy, then Cinnabar Theater’s Crimes of the Heart will make for a pleasant couple hours of entertainment.  Otherwise, your theater time may be better spent elsewhere.

Crimes of the Heart runs at Cinnabar Theater till November 6. Tickets run $15 to $25. For tickets and more information, visit www.cinnabartheater.org