Carl Gonzalez's Elephant Girls deals with the hot topic of racial identification. Set in a New Jersey suburban home, "supermom" Claire (played with brisk efficiency by Glory Gallo) has everything in place for her latest "Kosy Kitchen" party (read Tupperware). When her daughter's math tutor unexpectedly arrives, Claire's little bubble of domestic frivolity is suddenly shattered. Robina Abdul is a young, pretty Afghani Muslim wearing traditional head garb. Because of a water main break, Robina is forced to stay at the party longer then she and Glory's guests would like. A car similar to Robina's is linked to the water main incident and an element of terrorist activity is presupposed. Suddenly, a little girlish get-together turns into Nancy Drew detective case.

When the author stays on course with issues that constitute cultural engagement (Glory's daughter is also doing a class project on the famous National Geographic cover 'The Afghan Girl') and tolerance (referencing the film The Elephant Man) as he does for most of the first act; all is well. It's after intermission that things spin out of control. We have sensed earlier that something is amiss with Glory's immediate family. Her sister (Amy Bizjak) suffers from an eating disorder and is a closet racist. Her mother is something of a functioning alcoholic (played with a commendable subtleness by Vivian Meisner). Claire, herself, is a perfectionist who drives everyone to distraction. Suddenly, the play's tone shifts towards the dysfunction and anger between the sisters and their mother; it's as if Mr. Gonzalez had gotten bored with Robina's story. A perverse, Mary Hartman-esque feeling takes over the proceedings as the plot becomes more outlandish and overwrought (a small animal is savagely killed and Robina is bludgeoned unconscious with a Kosy Kitchen cooking aide). It becomes rather sad to watch the talented ensemble grapple with the absurdity of the final half if the piece. Amy Bizjak as the bigoted sister Beth does manage to finally elicit some understanding and sympathy for her one-dimensional character, though. It is up to Sarah Miriam Aziz as Robina to lift the evening above the cliché, however. Projecting a quiet dignity throughout, she brings the needed weight to the multicultural message that Mr. Gonzalez now doubt originally intended.

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