The prosecuting attorney has his own problems: his male partner, Bunny, feels ignored and a burnt pot roast leads to a major domestic squabble.
Add in a courtroom debate about whether Shakespeare was a "fag" or a Jew, some references to Middle East peace talks, and you'll have some sense of the tense, ever-shifting brew Mamet has created.
I understand that broad comedy derives some of its laughs from stereotypes, but Mamet seems to wallow in them here, from the virulently anti-Semitic WASP lawyer, to the gay lover who swirls about in an apron and open-toed slippers that reveal his painted toenails (although, in that character's defense, he's probably the only one who'd be fun to have a drink with in the real world).
The opening-night crowd mostly seemed to enjoy Romance; there was certainly plenty of laughter and credit is due to Strollers' cast for attacking Mamet's script with gusto. As the judge, Lee Waldhart goes full-bore, his face reddening as he gets more and more worked up. Waldhart is likable in a way that his character certainly isn't.
Tim Irvin, as the tight-lipped, steely-eyed bailiff, is a welcome oasis of restraint in a courtroom spiraling out of control. And though I found elements of his character too stereotypical, Scott Albert Bennett is a likable Bunny and shows a knack for physical comedy.
While some will find Romance gleefully un-PC, it just didn't tickle my funny bone, and that lies mostly with Mamet's script, not Strollers' production. My problem with Romance is that Mamet mistakes being profane for being truly edgy. OK, I get it: the characters say "fuck" and bat around various slurs. But why would I want to spend time with these screaming, irrational men? Without enough laughs, I fear that we're left with Mamet's self-conscious cynicism.
