Screwball comedy takes the stage at Open Fist Theatre in the West Coast premiere of Early and Often written by Barbara Wallace and Thomas R. Wolfe.

Set in Chicago in 1960, democrats, republicans, and everyone else will stop at nothing to compete for votes, power, and a political code of honor in this tumultuous, zany, murder-mystery filled with whodunits, real estate scams and plenty of illicit affairs all around.  It should have been hilarious and at times, is.

But Early and Often has difficulty finding its way through the gags, setups, and style as good guys do bad things to prevent the bad guys from having their share of the “goods” when suddenly there becomes a vacancy in the state assembly.

Unevenly written and directed, there is never-the-less, an interesting show in development.

Synopsis:

Sure, it’s Chicago, 1960, and, sure, the election of JFK hangs in the balance, but there’s a lot more at stake for Democratic Precinct Captain Art Ruck. He has a cushy job with the Park District and plenty of girlfriends, but when Ward Boss John Flannery announces a vacancy in the State Assembly, Art will stop at nothing to get the seat, including betraying the Democratic Party that fostered his career. It is a time when there is a code of honor in politics, meaning there are good guys and bad guys, though the good guys do bad things to prevent the bad guys from having their share of the goods…or something like that. In the end. Art Ruck is reminded that power corrupts, but absolute power is good for the neighborhood.

This partial review originally appeared in L.A. Theatre Review