Having it all....

Trudi Jackson, Daisy Hughes, Alan Cox, and Mark Rice-Oxley  in "Playing With Grown Ups," part of Brits Off Broadway at 59E59 Theaters. Photo by Carol Rosegg.

"I am woman, hear me roar," the radio blares. In the background a baby wails in distress as only babies can.
In Hannah Patterson's drama, "Playing With Grown Ups." at 59E59 Theaters through May 18th, the choices -- have a family, enjoy a career-- seem to be constricting. For Joanna (Trudi Jackson), at any rate, the ones she's made are stifling. Her husband, Robert (Mark Rice-Oxley), pays lip service about wanting to be a care-at-home dad, while he's wrapped up in his work. Robert has to worry about the possibility that as a film professor he may soon be redundant.

Daisy Hughes and Trudi Jackson in "Playing With Grown Ups," part of Brits Off Broadway at 59E59 Theaters.
Photo by Carol Rosegg.

Even Jake (Alan Cox), Robert's head of department and Joanna's ex, is on edge. Jake's seventeen year old pick up, Stella (Daisy Hughes) is the only one wise beyond her years, as she calmly observes the "grown ups" in mid life crisis.

Mark Rice-Oxley and Trudi Jackson in "Playing With Grown Ups," part of Brits Off Broadway at 59E59 Theaters.
Photo by Carol Rosegg.

Stella's role as confidante, muse, or siren is a bit tenuous, although Daisy Hughes is extremely winsome. Just as Robert and Joanna have the off-stage Lily crying over the baby monitor, Stella's oft-quoted mother bolsters her character.  When Joanna asks if she's read Sylvia Plath, Stella says, "Please. My mum's a psychotherapist. I grew up on Sylvia Plath."

Daisy Hughes and Alan Cox in "Playing With Grown Ups," part of Brits Off Broadway at 59E59 Theaters.
Photo by Carol Rosegg.

Somewhere midway through, "Playing With Grown Ups" loses some steam, whether because of the script or the direction by Hannah Eidinow is unclear. It soon picks up plenty of emotion and energy as it draws to its inevitable conclusion.

The acting is excellent. Not a misstep from any of them: Trudi Jackson's steady meltdown; Mark Rice-Oxley's cluelessness; Alan Cox's detached bonhomie, and Daisy Hughes' sweet knowing innocence are all spot on.

As a sample of the proto-feminism in  "Playing With Grown Ups," let us submit this favorite dialog exchange: (Stella says) "There's so much going on with women at the same time....." (Joanna inserts) "One seamless, endless state of doing." (Stella) "Men make a song and dance of doing one thing. Really loudly...."

To learn more about "Playing With Grown Ups," please visit www.59e59.org.

Love and regrets in "A Dish For The Gods"

"The Portrait of Dorian Grey" comes to mind, in which Dorian's youthfulness is dependent on his portrait's aging.

Kevin Cristaldi as Greg and Margot White as Julia in Victor L. Cahn's "A Dish For The Gods" in a Rachel Reiner Production at Theatre Row's Lion through October 5th. Photo by Jon Kandel.

In Victor L. Cahn's new play "A Dish For The Gods," at The Lion in Theatre Row through  October 5th, the balance of success is scaled so that the acolyte's career soars while her mentor's fails.

Julia (Margot White), invited to lecture on women writers, reminisces about her one great love, Greg (Kevin Cristaldi,) who nurtured her growing ambitions and interests as a writer and academic.

Remembering her first encounters with the charismatic Greg, she says "A lot of people assumed that his manic energy manifested some demon inside. Young women were especially prone to this judgment. Our pipeline also clarified that he was single and … how can I put this … energetic. As at least three women in our offices could testify personally."

Julia found with time that she blossomed into a world-renowned writer and lecturer under Greg's inspiration. But as she flourished, Greg floundered.

Margot White as Julia with Kevin Cristaldi as Greg in "A Dish For The Gods." Photo by Jon Kandel.

Director Adam Fitzgerald does Cahn's excellent play credit, seamlessly bringing the past into the present as Julia winds her tale of  love and loss. A simple set, designed by David Arsenault, serves the many venues "A Dish For The Gods" inhabits.

Margot White and Kevin Cristaldi are both excellent in this two hander. She tells her story so naturally that it feels as if it were ex-tempore. He gracefully swings from mood to mood, first the manic popular professor then the defeated drunk.

You will have no regrets seeing "A Dish For The Gods."

For more information about "A Dish For The Gods," visit www.RachelReiner.com, or www.theatrerow.org/. For tickets, go to www.Telecharge.com. At the box office, you may purchase the tickets for the bargain rate of $19.25.

In "Poetic License," Truth Is Given Some Leeway

It takes a great deal of work to scale an ivory tower.

In "Poetic License," in its New York City premiere at 59E59 Theaters through March 4th, poet and academe, John Greer (Geraint Wyn Davies) is on the verge of reaching the apex of a distinguished career.

He's had a lot of help from his ambitious wife, Diane (Liza Vann). Liza Vann's Dianne is a suburban, good-hearted Lady MacBeth-with a mordant sense of humor. Most recently, Diane has orchestrated a PBS special about John Greer, which pleases him because it means he won't have to go on a book tour.

Geraint Wyn Davies as John Greer, with Ari Butler as Edmund and Liza Vann as Diane Greer in a photo by Carol Rosegg

The TV crews have been held at bay for this weekend, however, so that John
can quietly celebrate his birthday with his daughter Katherine (Nathalie Kuhn) and her new boyfriend, Edmund (Ari Butler).

Natalie Kuhn as Katherine Greer, with Ari Butler as Edmund in a photo by Carol Rosegg

Just how things fall apart for this family is playwright Jack Canfora's well-told secret. His taut script, which won a 2011 Abingdon Theatre award, majestically weaves a web of betrayals.

Natalie Kuhn as Katherine Greer, with Geraint Wyn Davies as John Greer in a photo by Carol Rosegg

In an expert cast, Ari Butler stands out with a nuanced performance as a troubled and troubling young man. "Jesus, John." Diane says, "our daughter is sleeping with a Dickens character."

Liza Vann as Diane Greer in a photo by Carol Rosegg. “Anything is palatable,” she says, “if you’ve got the right sauce….”

Geraint Wyn Davies' John and Natalie Kuhn as his admiring daughter may have the most to lose in "Poetic License" since their trust and affection are at the center of this drama.

For more information and a schedule of performances for "Poetic License," please go to www.59e59.org.