Tynan's Anger

A century later, a still-shocking trial provides criminally uninteresting theater


Those who purely value the socially conscious in theater will no doubt be thrilled by Terranova, a new drama by Pamela Monk and Dennis J. Loiacono. The play certainly explores an interesting premise, but Terranova struggles from a script that lacks any flow in dialogue and dramatic pacing. The script is so awkward that it ends upper boring than moving, resulting in a wasted opportunity.


Terranova takes an unconventional approach to the old world/new word dilemma of the American immigrant experience, and Terranova's premise and characters creates an interesting set of dramatic opportunities. On the one hand, the old world ethics of Josephina (Laura Lamberti) prevents her from fully acknowledging the ramifications of the horrific sexual abuse she grows up with. On the other hand, Josephina is in the Bronx, not Sicily, and the luxury provided by a fairer justice system produces a nearly irreconcilable differences in expectations. The ensemble of characters provide an interesting mix, from the establishment America of William Randolph Hearst (John Gazzle, who lacks anything resembling the gravitas you'd expect from Hearst), the compassionate but materialistic reporter Dorothy Dix (Raissa Dorff), and Josefina's counsel John Palmieri (Steve DiNardo), stuck in between the Italian ethical code and the opportunities provided by America.

All this would make a fascinating drama with a less painfully turgid and shallow script. Monk and Loiacono sacrifice anything resembling nuance in order to advance its larger conceptual themes. The cast constantly struggles to find the right tone, and almost no actor really succeeds, as much a fault of the script as the actors' lack of chops. The one standout is Lamberti as Josephina, the only actor able to provide raw emotion to seep through the scripta wordy script (her perpetual rants in Italian, Lamberti's native tongue, certainly help.)

Terranova is based on a real-life trial that was brought back to attention in an article by playwright and bioethicist Jacon M. Appel in 2004. Appel's article focused on just how unnerving the case was to most who had heard it previously. Public acknowledgment of sexual abuse was practically unheard of before then, and almost every facet of the trial, from its use of psychological profiling and the temporary madness argument, the application of yellow journalism to an individual's life, and Terranova's controversial acquittal, mostly a result of jury nullification.

All of this is dramatic enough on its own, and leaves open plenty of room for theatrical innovation. The play however, takes no risks whatsoever, and falls back on blunt describing the implications rather than showing them. Monk and Loiacono didn't necessarily need to resort to shock tactics to get the point across; then again, I've never seen a play that glossed over sexual abuse so carelessly. Terranova's failures end up making a better case for going into riskier territory. Because the script is so insufferable, and because the only thing remotely risqué about the play is its occasional racial epithet (epitheths that were thrown around much more carelessly in 1906) Terranova only weakens any sympathy an audience can feel for characters who were much more interesting in real life. Granted, Terranova suffers from a weak production, but there's so little to be enthusiastic about with this script that I doubt anyone could redeem it.

Terranova by Pamela Monk and Dennis J. Loiacono. Directed by Theresa Gambacorta; costume design by Natasha Daniels; lighting design by Adam H. Greene; music by Michela Musolino and David Pinkard.

Starring Steve DiNardo (John Palmieri), Raissa Dorff (Dorothy Dix), Lucia Grillo (Concetta Reggio), John Gazzale (William Randolph Hearst), Laura Lamberti (Josefina Terranova), Joseph LaRocca (Gaetano Reggio), Joseph Mancuso (The Alienist), Margo Singaliese (Maria D'Angelo), Emilio Tirri (Giuseppe Terranova).

Terranova's last fringeNYC Encore performance runs tonight, September 22, a 7 p.m. in the Actor's Playhouse (100 Seventh Ave. South). Ticket Information: 866-468-7619; http://www.fringenyc-encoreseries.com

Labels: 2009-2010, Dennis J. Loiacono, Laura Lamberti, nyc fringe festival, Pamela Monk, terranova, theater review