"ORPHELIS DESCENDING", IS TENNESSEE WILLIAMS'S 1957 SULTRY PASSIONATE TALE OF A WANDERING DRIFTER WHO SLIDES INTO A SMALL MISSISSIPPI TOWN, MAKING THE MIDDLE AGED WOMEN SWOON. IT IS A CHALLENGING PLAY, NOT DONE VERY OF`TEN. IT HAS JUST OPENED AT THE PACIFIC RESIDENT THEATRE.

IT IS THE STORY OF VAL (EXCELLENT PORTRAYAL BY GREG VIGNOLLE) WHO WITH HIS SHARK SKIN SUIT JACKET, AND AUTOGRAPHED GUITAR OOZES SEXUALITY. HE LANDS IN THIS OUTWARDLY DEMURE SOUTHERN TOWN SMOLDERING WITH BITTER SINISTER SECRETS BUBBLING JUST BENEATH ITS GRACIOUS GENTEEL SURFACE. THE EROTICALLY STARVED WOMEN SNIFF OUT THE WILD SPIRITED BOY OF THIRTY, LIKE A DOG SEARCHING FOR A BONE. VEE TALBOTT (SHARRON SHAYNE) THE SHERIFF'S WIFE BRINGS VAL TO THE TORRANCE MERCANTILE SO HE CAN GET A JOB. JABE TORRANCE (BRAD QUEENQWST), THE OWNER IS HALF DEAD. HE JUST HAD A MAJOR STROKE. HIS ITALIAN WIFE LADY (EXTRAORDINARY EDGY PERFORMANCE BY MARILYN FOX) RETICENTLY HIRES HIM. SHE IS THE DAUGHTER OF A MAN THEY CALLED THE "WOP", WHO WAS BURNED TO DEATH BY THE TOWN REDNECKS TWO DECADES AGO BECAUSE HE SOLD BOOZE TO THE NEGROS. LADY, A SAD WOMAN, SUDDENLY IS SEXUALLY AWAKENED BY THIS MOODY BOY.

ALLEY MILLS GIVES EXPICIT INVIGORATING PORTRAIT OF TATTOOED WHITE TRAILER TRASH CAROL CUTRERE WHO KNOWS PLENTY ABOUT VAL. HER BEHAVIOR IS SO INSIDIOUS SHE IS BANNED FROM THE COUNTY.

ELINA DE SANTOS IMPRESSIVELY DIRECTS THIS ADMIRABLE PRODUCTION. STEPHANIE KERLEY SCHWARTZ'S ADROIT FUNCTIONAL GENERAL STORE SET, ED CHA'S LIGHTING DESIGN, AND AUDREY EISNER'S PRECISE 1950S COSTUMES ADDS TO WILLIAM'S SOUTHERN GOTHIC FICTION. TERRIFIC ENSEMBLE WORK MAKES THIS OUR CRITIC'S PICKI

"ORPHEUS DESCENDING", PLAYING AT THE PACIFIC RESIDENT THEATRE, LOCATED AT 703 VENICE BOULEVARD, PLAYS THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAYS AT 8, AND SUNDAYS AT 3. FOR RESERVATIONS AND INFORMATION PLEASE CALL THE THEATRE BOX OFF AT AREA CODE (310) 822-8392.