NEW YORK—It's been said the best comedy comes out of pain, which may be why Carrie Fisher's one-woman show “Wishful Drinking” works so well. Based on her best selling memoir about her turbulent family life, Fisher invites the audience to look back and see how frighteningly comic (or tragically funny) the whole thing appears in hindsight.
Fisher was exposed to the celebrity world from the moment of her birth, being the daughter of actress Debbie Reynolds and singer Eddie Fisher, known at the time as “America's Sweethearts.”
Fisher's dad eventually left her mother for Elizabeth Taylor. (Fisher describes the trio as the Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie of their day.) Her parents and Taylor all ended up having multiple marriages, and in one of the more detailed segments of the show, Fisher uses a blackboard and photos to describe the tangled web of relationships (and offspring) that resulted. The idea for this demonstration got its genesis when Fisher's daughter was dating Taylor's grandson and they wondered if they were somehow related. (Fisher told them they were “related by scandal.”)
Other areas Fisher touches on include her marriage to Paul Simon, her battle with drugs and alcohol (“Actually I don't have a problem so much with drugs as I do with sobriety”), and her eventually being diagnosed as bipolar.
There are no great secrets revealed here and no major bearing of the soul. Instead, Fisher comes off as a genial host, sort of like an eccentric aunt, putting the audience at ease while inviting them inside her home for an evening of storytelling. (Though to be sure, her stories are a bit more unusual than most.)
There are also a few references to Studio 54 in the 70s and 80s, which also happens to be, in an ironic twist, the venue where “Wishful Drinking” is currently playing.
Fisher also has great fun sending up her Princess Leia character from the Star Wars movies, while dropping some interesting bits of trivia along the way (such as the part of Han Solo almost went to Christopher Walken; there is no underwear in space, according to Star Wars creator George Lucas; and the method she used to allow her dialogue flow trippingly off the tongue has something to do with a coffee pot.) There's also a nice display of some Star Wars memorabilia such as Princess Leia shampoo.
However, Fisher, to her credit, never makes excuses for her past actions, or those of anyone else. That she's reached a stage where she's comfortable with her life and can accept what has come before is a testimony to her strength and resiliency.
Direction by Tony Taccone is strong, letting Fisher's performance and story blend seamlessly together. The set by Alexander V. Nichols gives off an interesting combination of a homey and somewhat garish touch. The lighting (also by Nichols) works well, as do the costumes and sound design (neither credited in the program).
"Wishful Drinking" is not earth-shattering theater, and Fisher is certainly not unique among celebrities who have struggled with addictions and/or family issues. But her refusal to take herself too seriously, as well as a willingness to put her life out there for all to see makes the show stand out among the pack of similarly themed productions and also makes for an amiable and enjoyable experience.
Wishful Drinking
Studio 54
254 West 54th Street
Tickets: 212-719-1300 or www.roundabouttheatre.org
Running time: 2 hours
Closes: Jan. 3
Judd Hollander is the New York correspondent for the London publication The Stage.
