STAGE REVIEWS : ‘Coyotes’: A Lot of Heat but Very Little Light

Overheard at intermission: “What is the politically correct reaction to this play? Am I supposed to laugh or cry?”

Kevin Kelly probably hoped his “Ain’t No Coyotes in Poughkeepsie,” at the Rose Theatre in Venice, would inspire a few tears. But his characters are so extremely overwrought, laughter is likelier.

The first scene, depicting a nocturnal reunion between brothers Bobby (Daniel DeBrien) and Mickey (Kelly), is done in deep shadow. The lighting brightens for the rest of the play, but the brothers remain in a drug-induced fog so thick that it’s hard for them to touch us, despite their fervent howling.

Bobby has just been abandoned by wife (Nina Tremblay), kids and employer. To make matters worse, ne’er-do-well Mickey shows up: a would-be rock star on the ropes, oozing desperation. Mickey brings with him his latest pickup (Gina Elten), a psychobabbling creature who gets roughed up by Mickey but inexplicably lingers long enough to engage in some unconvincing female bonding with Bobby’s wife and mother.

The efforts of housecleaning Mom (Judy Kerr) to shake a little sense into her boys briefly give the play a much-needed edge. Menacing, abusive Dad (M. Patrick Hughes) gets a big scene too, which is explosive up to a point. But the lasting impression here is of nothing more than clenched fists, gnashed teeth and screamed epithets--heat but not much light.

Kelly wrote some rock ditties, a la Springsteen, for the soundtrack. Joe Maruzzo directed.

“Ain’t No Coyotes in Poughkeepsie,” Rose Theatre, 318 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, Fridays-Sundays at 8 p.m. Ends July 14. $10; (213) 285-8739. Running time: 2 hours.