Mediocre play satirizes yuppie lifestyle

By Patricia Ho

Yuppies. We all know the kind. Either you know one, are one or hope to one day become one. But if by some act of God you have managed to avoid this modern-day phenomenon, playwright Eric Bogosian's "Humpty Dumpty" will acquaint you.

Premiering on the West Coast at the San Jose Repertory Theatre, "Humpty Dumpty" centers on four friends who chose to spend their vacation in a renovated barn, complete with a fireplace, quilts and rustic charm.

What starts out as a fun and harmless getaway soon turns nasty when the electricity gets mysteriously cut off. With no means to recharge batteries, the life source that springs from cell phones also fails, leaving the four in limbo. After a week of being out of touch with the rest of the world, deer sightings are replaced by ominous threats of bikers and mountain lions on the prowl. A sense of claustrophobia prevails as the characters get on each other's nerves and abandon one another.

Unfortunately, Bogosian's "psychological thriller" is neither very intriguing nor thrilling. Rather than developing characters that the audience might sympathize with, the first part of the play is merely a litany of yuppie cliches. If Bogosian's intention was to showcase these people in their full obnoxious glory, he has succeeded, but to the detriment of the rest of the play. It is near impossible to sympathize with the characters' plight.

The "point" of the "Humpty Dumpty" seems to be summarized in a speech by Nicole, one of the main characters. It breaks down like this: yuppies are like eggs. In some situations they can withstand a lot of pressure and not crack; in others, they are ridiculously fragile. A crude representation of the message, yes, but no more so than in the play.

"Humpty Dumpty" boasts convincing acting and witty one-liners, but if you seek a sense of finality at the end of your plays, do not look here because nothing is resolved.

"Humpty Dumpty" will be playing at the San Jose Repertory Theatre until April 20. For more information, visit www.sjrep.com.