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Trouble on the 'Pig Farm'

By Matt Windman

Greg Kotis' dark comedy, 'Pig Farm,' stars John Ellison Conlee and Katie Finneran. (Newsday/Ari Mintz)

The New York International Fringe Festival, known for producing campy off-off-Broadway shows, seems to have arrived two months ahead of schedule. But the kind of lowbrow humor it's known for can be diverting as well as annoying and does not belong on a prestigious off-Broadway stage with first-rate actors.

Anyone who chooses to endure two hours of "Pig Farm" will wonder why the Roundabout Theatre Company chose to produce this stinker of a comedy. The answer: It was written and directed by the "Urinetown" team of Greg Kotis and John Rando. But whereas "Urinetown," which premiered at the Fringe, is a screwball comedy that is smart and meaningful, "Pig Farm" is merely stupid and painful to watch.

As the plot goes, three farmers struggle to maintain their herd of 15,000 pigs as an Environmental Protection Agency inspector arrives, marital affairs ensue, the pigs run away and random explosions occur. It is a witless satire that relies on sophomoric humor and visual gags in order to provide entertainment.

But even more depressing than the idiotic script is the waste of Tony-winning actors like Denis O'Hare and Katie Finneran. Making the best of the situation, the four-person cast provides over-the-top performances that strive to provide a desperate dose of physical humor.

While the Roundabout has previously provided great productions by authors from Sondheim to Moliere, as well as hits like "The Pajama Game," its recent misfires make one wonder where it is going aesthetically and why it is making such choices.

Laura Pels Theatre, 111 W 46th St, 212-279-1300, $56.25-$66.25. Tue & Thu-Fri 7:30pm, Wed & Sat 2 & 7:30pm, Sun 2pm. Through Sept. 3.