Theater Review : Leachman Shows Off Artistry as Grandma Moses in ‘Joy Ride’

For those who recall Grandma Moses as an overexposed pop figure who bordered on the kitschy, “Joy Ride,” at the Westwood Playhouse, is a chance to re-evaluate and reassess.

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Sure, Moses was a media phenomenon. Naturally, her work has been exploited in a variety of commercial venues, including Hallmark cards. Granted, she was drubbed for decades by the critical Establishment, which once dismissed her as a fluke.

However, Moses was an American original--never trite, but iconic. Cloris Leachman has been involved with Stephen Pouliot’s biographical drama since 1989. Slight but serviceable, the play is an unabashed showcase for her talents.

Leachman plays Moses at various stages of her life from girlhood to the century mark. She is charming throughout, but as the elderly Moses, she’s transcendent.

Craig Richard Nelson plays the various men in Moses’ life, from father to husband to mentor. Engaging and versatile, he more than holds his own.

The production elements are uniformly excellent, providing the perfect frame for this portrait of the artist as an old woman. But any way you paint it, the evening is Leachman’s.

* “Joy Ride: The True Story of Grandma Moses,” Westwood Playhouse, 10886 LeConte Ave., West L.A. Tuesdays-Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Ends May 29. $32.50-$38.50. (310) 208-5454. Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes.