Off-Broadway Review Clever Little Lies with Marlo Thomas and Greg Mullavey

Kate Wetherhead, George Merrick and Marlo Thomas. Photo: Matthew Murphy

That Girl Grew Up and is a Meddling Mother Dealing with Clever Little Lies
By Lauren Yarger
It’s been a while, but our favorite “That Girl” actress is back on the boards, just as perky and young-looking as ever (the latter thanks to some plastic surgery) in a delightful new play by one of our favorite and perky playwrights, Joe DiPietro (Memphis).

Marlo Thomas stars as Alice, a mother who knows something isn’t quite right with her son and his wife and when she invites them over to try to get to the bottom of a bunch of Clever Little Lies, family secrets are unleashed in unexpected ways.

Alice is concerned about Billy (George Merrick) and his wife, Jane (Kate Weatherhead), after discerning that something is wrong when her husband, Bill (Greg Mullavey), lets it slip that his son has confessed some confidential matters. Alice and Bill have been married too long for him to hide secrets from her, but when he refuses to divulge details – that Bill is having an affair with a young trainer at his gym – Alice decides to have the kids and their new baby over for a little cheese cake – and interrogation.

Jane has been distracted by being a new mom, but she knows something isn’t quite right. Billy seems angry all the time. What he’s really doing, is coming up with “clever little lies” all the time to get away with deceiving his spouse. When Alice decides to give the kids some much needed advice and honesty, what she shares might save their marriage, but end hers.

DiPietro, the Tony-Award-winner for Memphis who also brought us the fun books for Nice Work if You Can Get It and The Toxic Avenger, among other shows, creates interesting characters here, who have a lot of funny lines. It has been a while since I have laughed all the way through a show. 

Somewhere in between we also discover some serious themes about relationships, marriage and the importance of working at them. It’s funny, tender and satisfying.

David Saint deftly directs the action on Yoshi Tanokura’s set, which takes us from the guys’ tennis club, to a car (very nicely executed) and the parents’ living room. Scene changes are made smooth with original music composed by Scott Killian (who also designs the sound).

Thomas and Mullavey have good chemistry and excellent comedic timing (Mullavey, who has been making us laugh since “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” slays us with facial expressions alone). Thomas conveys deeper emotion, reminding us how much we enjoyed seeing her wide range of ability on TV’s “That Girl” so many years ago.

This show is an enjoyable 90-minute, no-intermission romp. And that’s no clever little lie.

Clever Little Lies played at the Westside Theatre, 407 West 43rd St. NYC. Performances are Mondays at 7 pm; Wednesday at 2 and 8 pm; Thursday at 7 pm; Friday and Saturday at 8 pm; Saturday at 2 pm; Sunday at 3 pm. Tickets: $79-$89; (212) 239-6200; www.cleverlittlelies.com.

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-- Sexual dialogue

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