The Milwaukee Post

September 27, 2013 • Milwaukee Post • 19 'Perfect Mendacity' leaves you with much to ponder Next Act Theatre reaches into complexities of human behavior By JULIE MCHALE Post Theater Critic MILWAUKEE – We all lie, sometimes to protect ourselves, sometimes to spare someone else the pain of the truth, sometimes to gain an advantage. We lie to others and to ourselves. Next Act Theatre's season opener, "Perfect Mendacity," explores this complex human behavior, its motivations and its costs. The play opens with a lie detector expert advising a client on how to beat a polygraph test. Walter Kruetzer has been accused of leaking classified information, either by putting it on the Web himself or by advising someone else to do so. Fearful of losing his job, he is trying to wiggle his way out of trouble. This story is a tale of wiggling and squirming. It creates a lot of uneasiness in the audience, as well. Is any human being totally trustworthy? That is the question. Can we predict our own responses in all scenarios? Are we guided by ethics or expediency? Are the good guys and the bad guys always easily distinguishable? One cannot leave the theater without some nagging questions. Children are not good liars, yet they all indulge in lying. Practice makes better, but seldom perfect. Is prevarnicating an innate or a learned behavior. Another At a glance Directed by David Cecsarini, "Perfect Mendacity" runs through Oct. 13 at the Next Act Theatre, 255 S.Water St., Milwaukee. Call 414-278-0765 or visit www.nextact.org. question. Mark Ulrich is perfect as the squirming Kreutzer. His agitation and volatility are palpable. David Cecsarini as his cool cohort Roger affords a keen contrast to Walter. Cecsarini is always good at cool. Even Roger's confession at the end barely ruffles his equilibrium. Lee Palmer as the lie detector expert and Dr. Doll as the surprise inquisitor both were a little shaky with lines at times, a common phenomenon on opening night. I thought both could have been a lit- tle creepier. Kreutzer's wife, Samira, impressively portrayed by Marti Gobel, is the most ambivalent figure in the play Though she . seems to have the most integrity, we also doubted her motives. Why did she stay with Walter so long after learning of his collusion in the use of anthrax? Did she compromise her principles in order to lead a more comfortable life? Was she also capable of violence after she decried it in others? Roger's concluding line is a scathing diatribe against the human race. Do you agree with his assessment or not? Another question for us to ponder. Rick Rasmussen's spare set lends itself to an air of slickness, as well as exposure. Very effective in creating an atmosphere. If you relish a challenge, you'll enjoy this one. I liked it. THE LIST Arts Thomas Angelski exhibit, noon Sunday, Polish Center of Wisconsin, 6941 S. 68th St., Franklin. Free. 414-529-2140 or www.polishcenterofwisconsin.org. "A Working Ranch," through Dec. 13, Grohmann Museum, 1000 N. Broadway, Milwaukee. $5 adults, $3 students and seniors, free for children under 12. www.msoe.edu. "Out of the Suitcase," through Oct. 5; "Study Abroad/U.S. Exhibitions," through Oct. 5; "The Brooks@Twenty," Oct. 8 through Feb. 8; "Co/exist: New Sensibilities in Collage," Oct. 18 through Dec. 7; "Grace Marie Keaton & Sheila Wagner, Samantha Bittman and Fransisco Cordero-Oceguera," Oct. 18 through Nov. 16; "Research, Practice and Methods: First-Year Exhibition," Nov. 11 through Nov. 26; MIAD Creativity Series: Nicola López & Gandalf Gavan, time to be announced Nov. 14; Student-alumni art and design sale, Dec. 5 through Dec. 7; Student holiday art sale, Dec. 5 through Dec. 7, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, 273 E. Erie St., Milwaukee. 414-8473200 or www.miad.edu. Music Tom Sorce, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 17, Amelia's, 724 S. Layton Ave., Milwaukee. 414-483-0345. Jamey Johnson, 8 p.m. Saturday, $31.50 and $36.50; Florida Georgia Line, 8 p.m. Nov. 3, $31.50 and $36.50; Eli Young Band, 8 p.m. Nov. 15, $25 and $32, The Rave, 2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee. 414-342-7283 or www.therave.com. Widespread Panic, 7 p.m. doors through Saturday, Riverside Theater, 116 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee. $40 general admission, $120 three-night pass. 414-2863663 or www.pabsttheater.org. Vocal Choir, 8 p.m. doors Saturday, Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells St., Milwaukee. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. 414-286- 3663 or www.pabsttheater.org. Black Joe Lewis, 7 p.m. Monday, Turner Hall Ballroom, 1032 N. Fourth St., Milwaukee. $17 in advance, $20 day of show. 414-2863663 or www.pabsttheater.org. Don Weast Jazz Trio, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sprizzo Gallery Caffé, 363 W. Main St., Waukesha. 262-513-5640 or www.sprizzo.net. Sarah Brightman, 7 p.m. doors Sunday, Riverside Theater, 116 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee. $155, $99.50, $85. 414-2863663 or www.pabsttheater.org. The Neighbourhood, 7 p.m. doors Tuesday, Turner Hall Ballroom, 1032 N. Fourth St., Milwaukee. $16 in advance, $18 day of show. 414-286-3663 or www.pabsttheater.org. Peter Mulvey, 8 p.m. Oct. 4, Pikes Peak Cabaret at Schauer Center, 147 N. Rural St., Hartford. $22 and $19. 262-670-0560 or www.schauercenter.org. "Concertos for Orchestra," 11:15 a.m. Oct. 4, 8 p.m. Oct. 5, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St., Waukesha. Starting at $25. 414-291-7605 or www.mso.org. Theater "Dying City," through Oct. 12, Lincoln Warehouse, 2018 S. First St., Milwaukee. $15. www.youngbloodtheatre.com. "Shrek, The Musical," Oct. 11 through Nov. 17, Todd Wehr Theater at Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St., Milwaukee. Starts at $14. 414-273-7206 or www.firststage.org. "Ragtime," through Oct. 27, Quadracci Powerhouse, 108 E. Wells St., Milwaukee. Starts at $20. 414-224-9490 or www.milwaukeerep.com. "Romeo and Juliet," 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 and Oct. 5, Oct. 11 and Oct. 12, 2 p.m. Oct. 13, West Allis Central High School, 8516 W. Lincoln Ave., West Allis. $15 adults, $13 students and seniors, $8 children under 12. www.waplayers.org. "The Detective's Wife," through Oct. 13, Broadway Theatre Center's Studio Theatre, 158 N. Broadway, Milwaukee. 414-291-7800 or www.chambertheatre.com. "I Left My Heart: A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett," through Oct. 13, Stackner Cabaret, 108 E. Wells St., Milwaukee. 414224-9490 or www.milwaukeerep.com. "Jersey Boys," Oct. 16 through Oct. 27, Marcus Center for The Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St., Milwaukee. Start at $45. 414-273-7206 or www.marcuscenter.org. Sinbad, 7 p.m. doors Oct. 5, Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells St., Milwaukee. $33.75. 414286-3663 or www.pabsttheater.org. "Comedy Bang Band Live!," 7 p.m. doors Oct. 7, Turner Hall Ballroom, 1032 N. Fourth St., Milwaukee. $25. 414-286-3663 or www.pabsttheater.org. Etc. Wisconsin Handweavers Inc. exhibit and sale, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, New Berlin Public Library, 15105 Library Lane. Free. contact@wihandweavers.org. Card social, 6 p.m. Friday, St. Florian Parish, 1215 S. 45th St., West Milwaukee. $12 donation. 414-383-3565 or www.stflorian.org. Harvest Fair, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Wisconsin State Fair Park, 640 S. 84th St., West Allis. Free. www.wisstatefair.com. Scandinavian Festival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 5, Ronald Reagan Elementary School, 4225 S. Calhoun Road, New Berlin. $8 adults, $7 with nonperishable food donation to the New Berlin Food Pantry, $2 for children ages 4 through 12, free for children 4 and under. www.nordiccouncil.com. "Be Still – A Silent Retreat," 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 12, Tippecanoe Presbyterian Church, 125 W. Saveland Ave., Milwaukee. 414-481-4680 or www.tippechurch.org. Native Wellness Garden Club, meets 4 p.m. Fridays, Tippecanoe Presbyterian Church, 125 W. Saveland Ave., Milwaukee. 414481-4680. or www.tippechurch.org. Cudahy-St. Francis Kiwanis Club wine and beer tasting fundraiser, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. today, Sheridan's, 5133 S. Lake Drive, Cudahy. $35 individual, $65 per couple. 414-315-1277. Milwaukee Heart Walk, 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Veterans Park, 1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, Milwaukee. www.milwaukeeheartwalk.org. Free to Breathe, 7:30 a.m. Oct. 12, Veterans Park, 1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, Milwaukee. $25 online by Oct. 9, $30 day of event. www.freetobreathe.org/milwaukee. Oktoberfest Artisan Fair, Oct. 11 through Oct. 13, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 3722 S. 58th St., Milwaukee. 414-543-7850. Pet loss support group, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. first Tuesday of each month, Wheaton Franciscan Hospital, 10101 S. 27th St., Franklin. Free. 262-514-2346. The Woman's Club of West Allis, meets first Friday of each month, Mount Hope Lutheran Church, 8633 W. Becher St., West Allis. 414541-3252. Got an item for The List? Send your information to The Milwaukee Post, 3397 S. Howell Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53207 or e-mail thelist@conleynet.com. All List items must be received one week prior to publication.

• Cover