Sibling Rivalry Propels Thin ‘Sharon and Billy’

The title characters in Alan Bowne’s “Sharon and Billy” are siblings in a dysfunctional family. This Open Fist Theatre Company and Syzygy Theatre Group presentation at the Open Fist Theatre offers some fine characterizations, but the piece takes them nowhere worth going.

It’s the less-than-innocent 1950s and Sharon (Lisa Soloway) is heading for trouble. Her loud-mouthed blue-collar father adores her, hoping that she’ll go to stewardess school. Her brother Billy (Damien Midkiff) is a pale screechy boy whom everyone, including their father, thinks is gay.

Their mother (Alisa Wilson) is the pearls-and-tasteful-pumps June Cleaver model wife, preparing dinner and a drink for her husband and mostly accepting his authority.

But Sharon gets pregnant and her disgrace doesn’t elevate Billy’s position. He’s left to occupy a gray area of secrets.

Bowne has captured some effective moments of sibling rivalry and love, but some scenes needlessly drag on. Bowne also hasn’t given much thought to the staging, and director Martin Bedoian hasn’t resolved this problem. Many transitions require the backstage crew to serve as bus boys, clearing off food and cleaning off the set’s dining table.

Soloway’s performance as Lisa seems forced, becoming more relaxed as the character matures. Midkiff’s Billy is irritating yet pitiful, and he doesn’t really change. Instead he just continues to screech and whine, making this slender piece an annoying slice of life. Your nerves will be set on edge, but your heart and brain won’t really be engaged.

*

“Sharon and Billy,” Open Fist Theatre Company, 1625 N. La Brea Ave., Hollywood. Mondays-Tuesdays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 10:30 p.m.; Sundays, 3 p.m. Ends Nov. 20. $10; except Sunday: pay what you can. (323) 882-6912. Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes.