‘Black, Blue’: A Bruising Tribute

Fans of Joe Orton may be regaled by the Ortonesque farce, “Black and Blue,” a kind of poor man’s “Prick Up Your Ears” at the Tamarind Theatre.

The action menacingly is set in the Orton flat at 25 Noel Road in London on Aug. 9, 1967--the day the playwright was bludgeoned to death by his lover, Kenneth Halliwell. But this fan was not regaled. The frenetic pace is tiring, the corpse in the bed, the nurse and the inspector grow wearisome and repetitive. The actor playing the catatonic/distraught Halliwell (Mark Neal) is a strident basket case, wailing like a banshee and jumping around like a chipmunk.

Warning to playgoers unfamiliar with Orton: “Black and Blue” is an insider’s job. Manchester playwright Peter Fieldson has propped up his homage with well-known characters from Orton plays, most notably Michael Halpin’s murderous young Mr. Sloane from “Entertaining Mr. Sloane.” He’s seen here as an intruder--in the show’s singular outstanding performance.

Director Marc Grapey staged the American premiere of “Black and Blue” four years ago in Chicago. Production values are sharp, from Marianne Wedset’s sinister lighting to set designer Kevin Adams’ rear wall collage of prints and photos based on the ones Halliwell collected for Orton.

“Black and Blue,” Tamarind Theatre, Thursdays - Saturdays, 8 p.m., Sundays, 7 p.m. Ends Feb. 24. $12.50-$15; (213) 466-1767. Running time: 2 hours.