Shocking Journey of Pain in ‘Throbbing’

“Hot ‘n’ Throbbing” is one scary show.

Paula Vogel’s 1994 play, now in a local premiere at the Fritz Theater here, starts by making you laugh, nervously, as a frumpy, bespectacled woman writes erotica on her computer while a sexy Voice Over (Michelle Hanks) huskily intones her words, swaying suggestively from an upper level of the stage.

“This is a story about control,” says the character Charlene, played by K.B. Mercer, who weaves a story of a woman in control of her fantasies--of making a man beg for what he wants.

But terror comes from surprise. As the scenes unfold, we meet Charlene’s oversexed daughter, Leslie Ann (Wendy Gastelum), and repressed son, Calvin (Elliott Kennerson), who challenge her at every turn. And when her abusive ex-husband, Clyde (Jon-Paul Baumer), breaks in after tearing the doorknob off the door, we realize that this is a woman who is obsessed with control because she doesn’t have any.

Only her loaded gun pointed at her former husband’s posterior gives her even a fleeting semblance of power. And by the time the inevitable happens, Vogel has us so locked into Charlene’s viewpoint that we don’t see it coming.

We are shocked.

Terrified.

Spent.

In interviews, Vogel has explained that she was inspired by real-life stories of abused women. And this profoundly disturbing work gives us a glimpse into the horror of that abuse, so we can better understand the plight of abused women and not be so quick to judge.

The Fritz Theater, a gutsy little company totally unafraid of controversial work, previously did a fine job with Vogel’s “The Baltimore Waltz,” a difficult dream-piece suggested by her brother’s AIDS-related death.

Intelligence and intensity characterize most of Christina Courtenay’s direction in the current production.

The always excellent Mercer reveals a vulnerability beneath a brittle exterior that makes perfect sense of her character’s short, unhappy journey. Hanks’ Voice Over provides a sultry but tough alter ego. Baumer’s Clyde fascinates as volatility, pathos, panic and rage churn dangerously. Josh Stoddard, too, is a fine acerbic counterpoint as a male Voice behind a desk, commenting indirectly on the action by quoting from the likes of James Joyce, D.H. Lawrence and Henry Miller.

Only Gastelum and Kennerson as the children seem like caricatures in their knee-jerk and overplayed Oedipal allegiances. Part of the fault lies in the writing.

Richard A. Fellner’s two-tiered set, nicely lit by Suanne Pauley, skillfully distinguishes the real-life drama from the Voice Over and Voice commentators. Judy Watson’s costumes suit the characters well overall.

“Hot ‘n’ Throbbing” is not for the faint of heart. It’s not so much a message play; it’s more a fine reporting job. You can take away one moral: Be careful of your fantasies; they might come true. Or even worse, they may tease you along with the promise of coming true, even tempt you along to a path of disaster.

* “Hot ‘n’ Throbbing,” Fritz Theater, 420 3rd Ave., San Diego. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Ends March 2. $10-$15. (619) 233-7505. Running time: 1 hour, 24 minutes.

Voice Over: Michelle Hanks

Leslie Ann: Wendy Gastelum

Charlene: K.B. Mercer

Voice: Josh Stoddard

Calvin: Elliott Kennerson

Clyde: Jon-Paul Baumer

A Fritz Theater production of a play by Paula Vogel. Directed by Christina Courtenay. Sets: Richard A. Fellner. Lights: Suanne Pauley. Costumes: Judy Watson. Sound: Jim Johnston. Dance choreography: Gretchen Burns. Combat choreography: Duane Daniels. Props: Viola Pastuszyn. Stage manager: Josie Kane.