Review of Looped, starring Valerie Harper, 2010

Looped, starring Valerie Harper, made the legend of Tallulah real for the now generation.

Costar Brian Hutchison annoyed the hell out of me for the first act, and then by the second act, I knew that that was his intent.  His discomforting tension and edginess kept me fidgeting along with him as I listened to the badinage from Valerie Harper's Tallulah. He was the perfect foil for Tallulah to express her free spirited life view. Not only was I looped by the dialogue, I was also hooked within minutes of Ms. Harper's entrance.  I grew up in Tallulah's home town of Jasper, Alabama, and longingly admired her reputation and also her mansion there.  To gain a glimpse of the renowned Bankhead family and to discover the catalyst for Tallulah's rebellion compelled me to hang onto every word of dialogue the play had to offer.  The tension and contrast of the main character and her foil led to a synergy in the second act, both hilarious and cathartic.

Valerie Harper was able to show the embodiment of a true stage and screen diva.  The young men rollicked in laughter at her every zippy one-liner.  I was glad to witness that these young men were learning that a diva is always a diva, even when facing the demise of her reputation, like a decaying Southern mansion.

Looped, starring Valerie Harper, made the legend of Tallulah real for the now generation.  Costar Brian Hutchison annoyed the hell out of me for the first act, and then by the second act, I knew that that was his intent.  His discomforting tension and edginess kept me figiting along with him as I listened to the badinage between his character and Valerie Harper's Tallulah. He was the perfect foil for Tallulah to express her free spirited life view. Not only was I looped by the dialogue, I was also hooked within minutes of Ms. Harper's entrance.  I grew up in Tallulah's home town of Jasper, Alabama, and longingly admired her reputation and also her mansion there.  To gain a glimpse of the renouned Bankhead family, and to discover the catalyst for Tallulah's rebellion compelled me to hang onto every word of dialogue the play had to offer.  The tension and contrast of the main character and her foil led to a synergy in the second act, both hilarious and cathartic.

Valerie Harper was able to show the embodiment of a true stage and screen diva.  The young men in the audience rollicked in laughter at her every zippy one-liner.  I was glad to witness that these young men were learning that a diva is always a diva, even when facing the demise of her reputation, like a decaying Southern mansion.