El Niño, L.A.’s bizarre winter weather pattern, (bursts of ferocious rain interspersed with blazing sunlight), is the symbol for Justin Tanner’s new comedy, now drawing laughs in its world-premiere run at Rogue Machine. Tanner, a much-produced L.A. playwright, specializes in dysfunctional, oddball families, and he sticks to the formula in El Niño with excellent results.> Acting as a peacemaker is Andrea’s boyfriend Todd (Jonathan Palmer), a veterinarian she met in Morocco. Todd, whose specialty is in euthanizing dogs and cats, is equally as xenophobic and insufferable as Andrea. The only character who is wholly decent and sympathetic is Kevin (Joe Keyes), Harvey and June’s lonely and nebbishy neighbor. Kevin, a keen reader of sci-fi novels, is blown away to discover that Colleen, his favorite writer, is living next door. He does his best to inspire her to start writing again. His efforts as a muse are impeded, however, when his precious cat becomes fatally ill. Colleen commiserates with him: feelings of love are kindled, and the two outcasts eventually hook up to take on the bad, back-biting world together. Tanner’s scabrous play about a California redneck family is filled with outrageous behavior and action, but thanks to the actors’ skilled work—impeccable timing and characterization—the story holds together for an hour and a half, drawing laughter and occasional tears the whole time.
