‘Division’ Weaknesses Multiplied

Steve Tesich probably will be remembered best for “Breaking Away,” which won him a screenwriter’s Oscar in 1979. This is as it should be. He certainly shouldn’t be remembered for “Division Street,” which is being revived at Chapman University.

“Division Street” is a confused affair, a young playwright’s creation full of sound and fury that, with the passing years, seem to signify less and less. To recap what plot there is:

Chris arrives in Chicago to work an insurance underwriter. He eats cabbage rolls in a restaurant, throws up on the sidewalk and is recognized: He was one of the firebrands at the ’68 Democratic convention. Old co-firebrand Roger seeks him out.

Both are headed for divorce, a fact that pales with the entrance of Tesich’s other characters: a hooker waiting for salvation; Chris’ wife’s attorney, who becomes a flasher; a black landlady who is also Polish; a transsexual police officer named Betty, and the restaurant owner, a paranoid out to decimate Chris for the bad publicity. They all wind up having been married or so closely related that the play looks like a melodrama out of the Gay ‘90s.

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The revival has been directed by Paul Frizler, on a set designed by Craig Brown, which is mostly tall piles of cardboard boxes, which may or may not have any significance. (Is it the emotional baggage Chris is bringing with him on his return to the Windy City?).

Frizler’s staging has little significance. He trusts the play without question and allows his cast to overact shamelessly, so the play betrays his trust. The actors mug, wiggle, grimace, do pratfalls and bad accents and otherwise cavort in a manner that would make even the lowest director of television comedy wince.

* “Division Street,” Waltmar Theatre, Chapman University, 301 W. Palm, Orange. Wednesday-Saturday, 8 p.m. Ends Saturday. $7. (714) 997-6812. Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes.

Coley O’Brien McAvoy: Chris

Naeemah Eshe Akemi Fukuda: Mrs. Bruchinski

Joseph William Sanders: Yovan

Liz Sabicer: Dianah

Erik Peterson: Sal

Kimberly Kennedy Blair: Nadja

Armand Rainville: Roger

Anthony Powell: Betty

Tommy Hodge: Arnold the Pimp

A Chapman University Theatre and Dance Department production of a play by Steve Tesich, directed by Paul Frizler. Scenic design: Craig Brown. Lighting design: Ron Coffman. Costume design: Camile Coyne. Technical direction: Richard Jackson. Stage manager: Heather Grindstaff.