'Family Secrets' n Getting Straight, a wonder- ropractor. She is now a Califor- ful novel, the central charac- nia lady — she and Mort relo- ter's dotty English mother cated from the East — and, in improves on the great Mexican her description of how mania set- dish of chicken mole, made with tled in after that disastrous din- velvety, bitter chocolate, by mak- ner of woebegone lasagna, is the ing it with Cadbury's. Fruit and most apt and touching of the Nut, I seem to remember. So, too, character studies. Elsewhere, one of the mothers in Family Se- Merson is fine as the embattled crets, the comedy at Jewish En- Mort, who refuses to accept his semble Theatre, makes a daughter Fern's wish to be called lasagna. With bleu cheese. When Kohari or her dancing with her the kids refuse to eat it, she has woman lover, Molly, at Mort and a breakdown and is hospitalized Bev's renewal of marital vows. In the last leg of the play, Mer- for manic depression. Maybe son plays teen-ager Sondra back- there's a connection? The connection between food to-back with 70ish Rose, and it's preparation and madness is not a neat package of impersonation. Sondra flounces around her explored in Family Se- bedroom complaining crets. The rituals of Jew- THEATER about washing dishes be- ish schtick, though, are, fore they go into the dish- as Susan Merson inter- prets not one but five members washer, and Rose, sitting legs of the Fisher family: Rose, the apart, discourses on new love maternal progenitor; Mort, her with Milton, and farting. Merson has a splendid time son, and his wife, Bev; and both with these disparate but similar characters, and watching her having a splendid time is the best trick in this tricky confection. Her director, Greg Howells, the co-author, mostly leaves her alone and lets her get on with it, providing simple, effective block- ing. This is matched by effective lighting by Mark Berg and ex- cellent prop and costume design by Melinda Pacha. The play itself— a shallow ex- ploration of parenthood and fem- ininity — breaks no new ground. Rather, it tills already well-plant- ed soil— the adolescent girl who wants a boy and feels she needs to be thin to attract one; the New Native Detroiter Susan Merson plays Age woman who gives birth, de- five different roles in the one-woman riding those who would eschew show Family Secrets, at the Jewish drugs and love the pain; even the Ensemble Theatre through Jan. 12. parent who resents a child's of their two female offspring, lifestyle but relents because of Fern and Sondra. An accurate spousal pressure. Been there, done that. And the diagnosis would be that play- wrights Sherry Glazer and Greg constant calling up of Jewish Howells are suffering from mul- stereotypes, asking us to laugh because we're just like that, is a tiple personality disorder. Merson, a native Detroiter, bit pushy. After all, Jews are con- does not change from character to cert pianists, drunks, lefties and character as in some monologist's senators as well as narrow-mind- dream; no, she becomes, in turn, ed accountants, hapless teens or each, shedding and then donning bipolar California moms with wigs and costumes, stored just up- therapists and dogs in need of re- stage in half light but full view. hab. Still, even cliches can be fun- While doing this, she sings in a pleasant, piping soprano as she ny, and I laughed a couple of cleverly eases us, and herself, into dozen times (though the birthing section would have been better if the next character. "Ga lie down," Bev says to it were a "C" section and over Brandi, her dog, whom she has sooner). A solid performance, just brought back from his chi- some easy laughs, an hour and a half. You could do worse. . I 4® Michael H. Margolin writes about cS. the arts. — Michael H. Margolin I 8 'The Crucible' PG-13 W ritten for the screen by Arthur Miller and based on his 1953 play about the Salem witch trials, The Crucible shows what hap- pens when paranoia and mass hysteria overpower rational thought and logic. Miller's inspiration was the 1950s Red Scare, a modern-day witch hunt where, due to mass paranoia, many people (includ- ing Miller himself) were wrong- ly accused of Communist involvement. These people were ing bewitched their innocent Putnam (Jeffrey Jones) is a minds. rather self-important, almost The town's religious people are sinister man, and it would be so frightened of witches, they be- nice to know if he ever gets his lieve the accusations and, almost due. The quiet yet fiercely in- without question, jail everyone tense Reverend Hale (stunning- the group names. ly played by Rob Realizing their plan has Campbell) makes an MOVIES worked better than antic- almost regal first ap- ipated, the group of women, pearance, and it seems led by Abigail Williams (Winona as if he will be one of the most Ryder), starts accusing everyone important and interesting play- they dislike of being witches, in- ers. Unfortunately, he is almost cluding the wife (Joan Allen) of nonexistent until a few final John Proctor (Daniel Day- scenes. Lewis). Even with these problems, Abigail has been infatuated The Crucible is a fascinating, Bruce Davison as Reverend Parris becomes embroiled in Abigail Williams' (Winona Ryder, right) plans for revenge in The Crucible. ostracized, shunned and black- listed from jobs unless they "con- fessed" and named other "Communists." In The Crucible, troubles be- gin in late-17th-century Salem, Mass., when a group of young women sneak off to dance around half-naked and to con- sume potions that cause men to fall in love with them. Unfortu- nately, they are caught and ac- cused of witchcraft — a crime punishable by death. To avoid this severe penalty, they false- ly accuse other townsfolk of hav- Jeremy Parnes graduated in 1996 from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in journalism. He is a member of DAFT. with Proctor since a brief affair tense movie which shows that earlier that year. But regretful while there are no real witches, of his infidelity, Proctor and his there is definitely witchcraft. wife are desperately trying to What else can explain why so save their marriage. The fallible many people, down through the yet brave Proctor must now find centuries and even today, con- a way to prove the women are ly- tinue to persecute the innocent? ing before his wife is hung. Despite its powerful story, The 1/2 Crucible suffers from a lack of delivery. Academy Award-win- — Jeremy Parnes ner Day-Lewis is great, but, as Proctor, he basically recreates his Last of the Mohicans char- acter. Ryder is unimpressive as Abigail. She acts slightly more Outstanding animated than a "Melrose Place" villain, and her character is de- Very Good veloped almost as much. Sadly, some of the more in- Good teresting minor characters are Fair not featured enough. Thomas ® 1 Bagel Barometer ® i@ck)