A Child’s Threshold for Divorce

After a recent Serendipity Theatre Company production of “Doors,” exhalations of relief were heard from adults in the audience. The subject matter is that strong and that personal.

Suzan Zeder’s play is a serious look at a disintegrating marriage and divorce, as seen through the eyes of a 12-year-old boy. (The work is probably best suited to ages 7 and older.)

It’s a gutsy offering for a commercial theater--this is not the usual children’s theater fare. Zeder, a respected children’s playwright, often writes from the standpoint of children in crisis, but her plays, and others that take a serious view, are offered far less often than fairy tales and funny stuff, a much easier sell.

Serendipity deserves credit for respecting its audience enough to expose it to such sensitive material, even though its production is uneven--director Scott Davidson’s staging could be crisper, particularly during the fantasy sequences, and Jacquie Moffet’s set is merely adequate. Still, although the cast seemed self-conscious with the play’s emotional weight at the performance attended, the final scenes packed a real wallop.

Jeff’s parents (Theresa Ambronn and Adam Menken) keep their violent arguments behind closed doors, but the shouting and anger are clear. At other times Jeff (Craig Hammill) is put in the middle of their sniping.

He becomes an expert at denial, turning up the volume on the TV when the shouting begins, reacting angrily to his friend, Sandy (Rebekah Baker), who says his parents can be heard down the block.

In one fantasy sequence, Jeff and his parents are blissfully happy; in another, his parents are reunited over Jeff’s deathbed. But even Jeff’s fantasies go sour. When his parents finally see his anguish, they level with him and each other. There’s no happy ending, but the shattering worst is over.

Parents, be prepared to field questions after this one.

“Doors,” Serendipity Theatre Company at the Coronet Theatre, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd., Fridays, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sundays, 1 and 4 p.m. Ends April 14. $6-$10; (213) 652-9199. Running time: 1 hour, 10 minutes.