Late in Southern Discomfort, a character asks “How can there be so many dysfunctions in one house?” The same question can be asked about this new comedy by Randall David Cook, getting its world premiere by the New Edgecliff Theatre at the Aronoff Center.

        New Edgecliff has been known for producing some challenging and respected work. Sadly, Southern Discomfort misfires in almost every way.

        The plot concerns Orchid (Sunshine Cappelletti), a Hollywood starlet who has returned to North Carolina for Christmas to visit her unloving family. Or maybe the play is about sister Maple (Elizabeth Harris) who whines about being trapped in this miserable house. Or maybe still the play is about Grandma Dixie (Joan Corey) who is directing a community theater production of The Diary of Anne Frank and is receiving protests because of the casting of a transvestite (John Edward Goodnow). Who knows?

        Mr. Cook starts off with a satire of Southern sensibilities in general and Southern women in particular. But after exposition spelled out in endless dream scenes, pointless visits by the ghost of Anne Frank (Jennifer T. Hurrell), accidental shootings that make no sense, and a man running around in boxers and a bra for no apparent reason, the play ends up a jumbled mess.

        Director Daniel Selznick tries to keep the mayhem zipping along, but Mr. Cook's mind-boggling tone changes snuff out both the comedy and the drama.

        For example, (and I'm not making this up) in the second act, Maple intentionally tricks her straight-jacketed mother (Josephine Keenan) into nearly getting raped (yuk, yuk), then she ties Mom to a Christmas tree (more yuks), where seconds later Mom and daughter bond and have a teary heart-to-heart. You'll laugh, you'll cry, your jaw will hang open in disbelief.

        Among the actors, only Jennifer Dalton as Orchid's British manager makes even an attempt to rise above the vapid material. The rest look lost or lifeless or both. Even the usually impressive Ms. Cappelletti goes through the motions looking like she'd rather be anywhere else.

        The set design by Dan Dermody has a genteel Southern living room, a nearly full kitchen, a scrimmed bedroom and an exterior veranda. It is the most detailed and elaborate set I have seen in the tiny Fifth Third Bank Theater and shows the creative possibilities of that performance space. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the rest of Southern Discomfort.
       

        Southern Discomfort, through July 1, Fifth Third Bank Theater, Aronoff Center, $15, $12 students/seniors 241-7469.

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