THEATER REVIEW : ‘Out of Purgatory’ Measures a Clash of Wills, Religion

The situation pursued by Carol Galligan in her play “Out of Purgatory,” which opened Saturday at the Cassius Carter Centre Stage of Balboa Park’s Old Globe Theatre, seems made to wreak predictable havoc: Irish-American Catholic marries Israeli now living in Manhattan and never the twain’s religious convictions shall meet.

But Galligan doesn’t settle for that. She pours gasoline on the fire. Crista (Felicity Huffman) is a devout Catholic who prays regularly for her dead alcoholic father’s rescue out of purgatory.

Her cab-driver husband, Ari (Bruce Nozick), is a cultural Jew who has little use for his or anyone else’s religion. Yet he insists, with the remarkable illogic of gut indoctrination, that their extremely rocky marriage might be healed if they were “Jewish married.”

As opposed, that is, to merely being married, as they have been, in a civil ceremony. When, after yet another knockdown drag-out with Crista, Ari says he’d consider having a child if he and Crista were “Jewish married,” he’s spoken the magic word. Little does he know the lengths to which Crista’s prepared to go to fulfill this dream.

All Ari really wants from his bride is lip-service paid to external religious form. But the thorough and forthright Crista will only be “Jewish married” if she can go all the way and seriously embrace her conversion to Judaism. This is a lot further than what Ari had in mind.

His disgust and astonishment, however, are nothing compared to Crista’s fiery Italian mother’s shock. Maria Ciccone MacElroy (Deborah Taylor) is appalled that her daughter would consider such a conversion, let alone take it to heart. What about dear old dad in purgatory?

Well, Crista’s nothing if not resourceful and she’s not one to abandon anyone anywhere. Rabbi Mordechai Leventhal, whom she seeks out to achieve her conversion, is almost as appalled as her mother is, distrusting her motives--at first. As he begins to recognize the force of her sincerity, he becomes the mentor and friend that Crista has so sorely needed.

*

Galligan’s play is the story of Crista’s journey out of the purgatory of her own soul, a journey the playwright handles deftly even if the characters with which she has surrounded Crista are patently designed to facilitate the trip.

There’s an ugly truth lurking between Crista and her hot-tempered mother that has soiled their relationship, and the vain and brutish Ari is nobody’s dream husband. At the same time, Leventhal is one swell rabbi, the wise and kindly father Crista never had.

Formulaic? To a large degree. But one has to credit Galligan for writing perceptive dialogue that fleshes out character, and director Benny Sato Ambush for casting his production with actors who make “Out of Purgatory” more than just another predictable voyage.

He carefully calibrates the play, keeping an audience interested and involved. Huffman carries the major burden and her sweet performance sets the tone for the others. She’s an appealing figure whom we quickly expect will overcome her many predicaments. Her relationship with Sterling’s sane and levelheaded rabbi strikes all the right notes, as much thanks to the sober balance of his portrayal as to the delicacy of her approach.

To his credit, Nozick doesn’t shy away from being a compleat heel, suffering from unrelenting machismo and other nastinesses that pervade his character. Galligan should consider making this guy more ambiguous, if only to improve suspense. The audience was way ahead of Crista and Leventhal Saturday when the latter suggested that maybe what she needed was another husband--a statement that brought down the house.

Ralph Funicello and Jane La Motte have designed a simple yet functional set divided between Rabbi Leventhal’s office and Ari and Crista’s apartment. Ashley York Kennedy’s lighting helps differentiate the spaces and Andrew V. Yelusich’s costumes support character, carefully tracking as well its development in Crista.

But the surprise of “Out of Purgatory” is the unobtrusive wit, truthfulness and tenderness of the writing, in spite of that sexist thug Ari and that screaming mother, Maria Ciccone MacElroy--a role whose shrillness Taylor has the guts not to soften, making a credible defense for this woman.

It’s not that one would want to back her up, but that her repeated assurance that she doesn’t understand choice because she’s never known it is on target. Crista may not be able to summon up forgiveness for her benighted mother, but we as interloping viewers can at least see what makes her tick.

Which tells us all we need to know about the play. Within its admittedly tailor-made structure, Galligan’s piece is as honest and forthright as its protagonist. And as unassuming. Coupled to Ambush’s meticulous staging, it makes for a sensitive and pleasantly entertaining two hours of theater.

* “Out of Purgatory,” Old Globe Theatre, Cassius Carter Centre Stage, Simon Edison Center for the Performing Arts, Balboa Park, San Diego. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m.; Saturdays-Sundays, 2 p.m. Ends June 20. $21-$32; (619) 239-2255). Running time: 2 hours, 5 minutes.

Felicity Huffman Crista MacElroy

Bruce Nozick Ari Ben David

Philip Sterling Rabbi Mordechai Leventhal

Deborah Taylor Maria Ciccone MacElroy

Director Benny Sato Ambush. Playwright Carol Galligan. Sets Ralph Funicello, Jane La Motte. Lights Ashley York Kennedy. Costumes Andrew V. Yelusich. Sound Jeff Ladman. Stage manager Peter Van Dyke. Assistant stage manager Julie Baldauff.