‘The Chameleon’ Review: Family Dysfunction

metroweekly.com:

The Chameleon least expects it, the roof of their house caves in, and not just figuratively.Though, without question, the sudden ceiling collapse serves as a metaphor for the fragile, imperiled state of several family members and relationships inside the Golden-Kruger household in suburban Long Island.Gathered for a “Jewish Christmas” dinner of takeout Chinese, and celebrating a milestone job offer for prodigal daughter Riz (Dina Thomas), the family had already seen the mood marred by turbulent outside interruptions.But a hole in the roof is also an actual catastrophe for everyone in the house, another WTF, post-dinner disaster in a night filled with them, meant to be played for angst and laughs — the measure of which can be hard to read in director Ellie Heyman’s world-premiere production at Theater J.Despite the awkward live execution of the roof caving in on Andrew R.

Cohen’s impressive two-story suburban home set, the damage works to amplify tension in an already tense situation, as Riz and family squabble over a career- and character-defining matter of ethics.But what happens next is much less clear, when seemingly a storm blows through the house, sending family members flying, and clinging for dear life to the furniture, lest they be — who knows? — swept away as if by a twister.Since the house’s upper floor would seem to prevent someone downstairs from being sucked out through the ceiling, is there merely a changing wind blowing new energy into Weiner’s scenario?

If a major weather event has stalled overhead, neither the set nor sound design tell that story, and the different versions of wind-tossed flailing from the ensemble just give the impression the director and cast haven’t all agreed on the physical reality.