There is an exuberant creativity in Edward Allan Baker's The Framer, now at the Michael Weller Theater, that is unfortunately weighted down at times by a tendency toward the mundane. His play runs the gamut from soaring comedy and inspired plotting to deflating mediocrity; but, on balance, so much is entertaining that one tends to forgive the play's flaws -- especially in light of some exceptional performances.

The folks in The Framer make the dysfunctional family in August: Osage County look pretty tame by comparison. The title character, Ronnie (Craig Bockhorn) is dying of cirrhosis. His long-suffering wife, the tough-talking Patsy (Suzanne Didonna) is patiently waiting for him to die, wh[...]