Death Takes a Holiday

SAN DIEGO — While other theaters are packing up their holiday productions of goodwill, San Diego’s spunky little Fritz Theatre, bless its usual contrary self, continues its run of the U.S. premiere of Morris Panych’s “Vigil,” a two-character play about a man who comes to the deathbed of his elderly aunt and stays on, increasingly annoyed, when her health starts improving.

The Fritz has a knack for discovering fresh, funny and discomfiting voices. The Vancouver-based Panych, at least from this mordantly witty play, deserves wider exposure.

Kemp (Ron Choularton), a bank clerk who doesn’t like people, leaves his job to attend Grace (Katherine Faulconer) when he gets a letter saying that she is dying. It’s a duty that becomes unbearably burdensome to him as the woman keeps hanging on.

“I’m concerned about your health these last few days,” Kemp tells her. “It seems to be improving.”

Under the skillful direction of Rosina Reynolds, Choularton, an actor of exquisite timing, breathes life into a prickly part. With utter dismay, he delivers such lines as:

“It’s been three days. My pants are getting wrinkled. What am I supposed to wear to your funeral?”

Veteran actress Faulconer does an equally remarkable job with a part that calls for few lines but many reactions. She’s got the expressions to top each outrageous punch line. And she delivers them loud and clear.

Christopher Rynne’s set, Grace’s sick bed and a few homey pieces of furniture frame the sad, sweet mood. Judy Watson’s costumes capture the characters’ modest lot.

*

One of the few false notes comes at the end in a final reaction by Choularton’s Kemp. The playwright reveals in Kemp a little bit of heart that bleeds like melted ice. The ending, as Choularton plays it, negates that change, makes fun of it. That’s a mistake.

But it’s a rare misstep in an otherwise flawless production that, between the harshest laughs, makes you think about duty, obligation and love, about what we all owe to each other, and how the gift of oneself can so unexpectedly reward the giver.

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* “Vigil,” Fritz Theatre, 420 3rd Ave. San Diego. Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 and 7 p.m. Ends Jan. 12. $10-$15. (619) 233-7505. Running time: 1 hour, 57 minutes.

Ron Choularton: Kemp

Katherine Faulconer: Grace

A Fritz Theatre production. Play by Morris Panych. Directed by Rosina Reynolds. Sets: Chris Rynne. Lights: Jennifer Tyrer. Costumes: Judy Watson. Sound: Michael Shapiro. Stage manager: Julie Haisha.