"The Winslow Boy" --Pyrrhic Victory Or Unleavened Triumph?

Photo by Joan Marcus. Terence Rattigan's "The Winslow Boy" at Roundabout Theatre Company's American Airlines Theatre, clsoing December 1st. Charlotte Parry as Kate Winslow with Zachary Booth as Dickie Winslow.

There are playwrights who have been forgotten and then there are those who have been neglected at our peril. Terence Rattigan was a popular writer before new voices of malcontent and unrest appeared on the scene. The oft-called "angry young men" were eager to break new theatrical ground and fight new universalist battles. Rattigan was a master of old-fashioned dramaturgy, whose subjects were often also universalist battles.

In "The Winslow Boy," certainly, based on an actual case, Rattigan resonates with ideas of personal freedom and the right to vindicate ourselves against untrue allegations by those in positions of power. "The Winslow Boy" transcends the drawing room in which it is so gracefully set by Peter McKintosh to attack issues of due process and inalienable rights.

"The Winslow Boy" harkens to quaint ideas about parental approval and filial obligations. It takes place around 1912, before the "great war," when women's suffrage, Kate Winslow's (the wonderful and winsome Charlotte Parry) raison d'etre, is considered a lost cause. Sir Robert Morton (a superbly cool Alessandro Nivola), the advocate Arthur Winslow (the marvelous Roger Rees) hires to defend his son, Ronnie (a lovely Broadway newcomer Spencer Davis Milford) against allegations of theft speaks to the difference of what is right and what is just. Sir Robert dedicates himself to the cause of "The Winslow Boy" in the interests of the former. That, too, may seem a bit quaint. 

Yet it is very much still a timely question of whether the powerful can attempt to impose their version of the truth with impunity if the rest of us do not abrogate our right to fight against it.

Arthur Winslow is a highly practical man. Yet he sacrifices his family's security for the sake of what is right. If Ronnie-- "The Winslow Boy"-- has been falsely accused by the Admiralty, then his name should be cleared."The Winslow Boy" himself stands at the center of the fuss as disinterested as he is innocent. He is, as his brother Dickie (Zachary Booth) puts it, and ordinary boy, who "sometimes doesn't wash." Ronnie is oblivious of the concerns of his family or the troubles  they are undertaking on his behalf. 

Charlotte Parry, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and

Spencer Davis Milford. Photo by Joan Marcus.

The charm of the writing in "The Winslow Boy," articulated by the actors with equal charm gives the "tempest in a teapot" story broader reach. "The Winslow Boy" is at once humanistic and realistic about its subject. It dares to question our reactions while pointing us to the broader picture.

Under the excellent direction of Lindsay Posner, there are some wonderful performances from the  large cast in this production: Michael Cumpsty is peerless as the hapless Desmond Curry; Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio is superb as the patiently suffering wife and mother, Grace Winslow. Henny Russell is etouchingly amusing as the Winslows' loyal, inept and untrained parlor maid, Violet. Chandler Williams gives a  fine portrayal as Kate's exasperated fiance, John Watherstone; he also cuts a nifty military figure in his resplendent uniform (also courtesy of Mr. McKintosh's design.) Rounding out the ensemble are Meredith Florenza in a small but meaty role as a reporter, Miss Barnes, interested only in the women's point of view on the case; and Stephen Pilkington as her associate, the photographer Fred.

To find out more about this production of "The Winslow Boy," which plays at the American Airlines Theatre through December 1, please visit Roundabout Theatre Company.

Secrets Haunt in "Unbroken Cirlcle"

Aunt June (Eve Plumb) finally gets to read the will as the family looks on.
Edna (Anika Larsen), Patti (Juli Wesley), Bobby (James Wesley) and Ruby (Suzanna Hay) Photo by Bill Selby.

There is no such thing as a well-kept secret. In fact the secrets the family in "Unbroken Circle," at St. Luke's Theatre in an open run every Wednesday, have done a good deal of harm.

Aunt June (Eve Plumb), Cheryl (Lori Hammel), Bobby (James Wesley) and Ruby (Suzanna Hay) sit around the table trying to enjoy a family meal. Photo by Bill Selby.

James Wesley, who also stars as Bobby, has written a darkly comic, poignantly gripping play about a family troubled by their past. "Unbroken Circle" is moving, and unpredictable.

The family gathers after burying Travis, the father and grandfather that none of them, except perhaps Aunt June (Eve Plumb) much misses. In fact, his demise frees his wife Ruby (Suzanna Hay) of many burdens of care. Her daughter, Edna (Anika Larsen) comes back home for the first time since she ran away at sixteen. Bobby (James Wesley), her twin, can unburden himself of a life of failure and misery too.

Husband and wife Cheryl (Lori Hammel), Bobby (James Wesley) confront their daughter, Patti (Juli Wesley). Photo by Bill Selby.

Eve Plumb is very fine as the cynically pious June. Suzanna Hay stands out as the tough and  
protective Ruby. James Wesley is brilliant as the defeated Bobby. Lori Hammel is excellent as his wife Cheryl, as is Anika Larsen as the prodigal sister. The youngsters, Stacey Bone-Gleason as Cathy, who has just come of age, and Juli Wesley as the precocious and clever Patti, give memorable performances. In short, the ensemble are superb.

"Unbroken Circle" is an engaging, entertaining and touching drama about a family overcoming their troubled past. The direction by Jason St. Little and the sets by Josh Iacovelli make the most of the small space in which the play is staged. 

For more information, schedule, and tickets for "Unbroken Circle," please visit www.unbrokencircletheplay.com. 

This "Trip" Is More Than Worth The Fare!

Cicely Tyson is Mrs. Carrie Watts in  Horton Foote's"The Trip To Bountiful." Photo by Joan Marcus 

Home can have a powerful pull on a body.

Horton Foote's "The Trip To Bountful," at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre through July 7, is a tale of yearning to return.

Cicely Tyson as Mrs. Carrie Watts with Condola Rashid as Thelma in the revival of "The Trip To Bountiful."
Photo by Joan Marcus.

Mrs. Carrie Watts (Cicely Tyson) wants to go back, away from the bickering old woman she's become. Her frivolous daughter-in-law Jessie Mae (Vanessa Williams) provokes her to be her worst self. Ludie (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), her son, is sweet and ineffectual. Mrs. Watts' life with them in a two-room apartment in  has her longing for her childhood home in Bountiful. The farm town may as well have been named in irony; there is nothing left of it since it's soil blighted by overuse. To Mrs. Watts, it is a wonderful memory she longs to revisit before she dies.

Vanessa Williams and Cuba Gooding, Jr. Photo by Joan Marcus.

"I think Ludie knows how I feel about getting back to Bountiful. Once when I was talking about something we did back there in the old days, he burst out crying. He was so overcome he had to leave the room," she tells Thelma (Condola Rashid), a stranger who befriends her during her "escape" from Houston.

Cicely Tyson and Cuba Goofing, Jr. in "The Trip To Bountiful" in a photo by Joan Marcus.

In the interest of full disclosure, "The Trip To Bountiful" is a personal favorite among Horton Foote's extensive repertoire. Foote's first producd play dates back to 1941 with the off-Broadway production of  "Texas Town." (A theme revisited in Primary Stages production of "Harrison, TX.") Foote, who died in 2009, had a long and much-feted career, with many a Broadway hit; Foote was the recipient of numerous awards -- including the one bestowed by the Academny of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Tom Wopat is charming in a small role as Sheriff . Photo by Joan Marcus.

This superb cast, anchored by the outstanding Cicely Tyson, with strong performances by Vanessa Williams and Cuba Gooding, Jr. bring Foote's lovely tale to its fullest flower.

Tyson's many awards over her illustrious career, including Emmys and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her Broadway appearances began in the late 1950s, as an understudy in "Jolly's Progress," and included the 1983 production of "The Corn is Green," and a few performances (once as a host) at Tony celebrations over the years. There already is a lot of chatter suggesting she might win this year's Tony!

You would not know it while watching Cuba Gooding, Jr.'s nuanced performance as Ludie that this is the Academy Award winner's stage debut. On the other hand, Vanessa Williams, a multi-Grammy award winner, has plenty of experience acting in theater; in 2002, she got a Tony nod for her portrayal of the Witch in the revival of the Sondheim "Into The Woods." Up-and-comer Condola Rashid,  Tony-nominated for her role in "Stick Fly" in 2012, doles out a pitch-perfect performance.

When we come to Bountiful, the scenic design by Jeff Cowie is bucolically pictorial, giving a pastoral beauty to the town of Mrs. Watts' memories. For lovers of the technical, there is a suspended cross-section
of a travelling bus, under the supervision of Hudson Theatrical Associates.  In Houston, Cowie's set describes the oppression of a cramped apartment, giving the stars a small space in which to work. The Watts' ground floor is overladen with the darkened windows of neighbors above them. Note the nod to the color of the casting, and the times of the play, set in Texas in 1953, in the sign pointing to the White Waiting Room at the bus depot.

Under Michael Wilson's direction, there isn't a misstep in the journey of "The Trip To Bountiful." Go and spend an evening travelling in the world Horton Foote has created.

For more information on "The Trip To Bountiful," please go to The Trip To Bountiful on Broadway.

Odets "Golden Boy" Pulls No Punches

Certainly there were many precedents, like The Jazz Singer,  of disappointed fathers whose sons were determined to pervert their pure talent for commercial success. Clifford Odets, however, had a hand in turning the dilemma of choosing fame over art into a cliché.

Seth Numrich as Joe and Yvonne Strahovski as Lorna in "Golden Boy." Photo by Paul Kolnik 

In "Golden Boy," at the Belasco Theatre again for its 75th anniversary, staged by Lincoln Center Theaters, and running through January 20th, a boy forsakes music for the excitement of the boxing ring.

In the 1930s, and for many years thereafter, boxers exerted celebrity. The limelight, not fiddling under a street lamp for tips, is what Joe Bonaparte (Seth Numrich) seeks. The day when Joe decides to put on boxing gloves, his father (Tony Shalhoub) spends a small fortune on a violin for his 21st birthday.

If Joe needs convincing on the path to the fight game, he gets it from Lorna Moon (Yvonne Strahovski), the hard-boiled dame who falls for his sweetness while pushing him toward brutality.

Yvonne Strahovski as Lorna Moon and Danny Mastrogiorgio as Tom Moody. Photo by Paul Kolnik.

Tom Moody (Danny Mastrogiorgio), perhaps sensing their rivalry for Lorna's affections, doesn't much like the kid he's managing. Tom dubs Joe "the cock-eyed wonder" to the press and fans.

Anthony Crivello as Eddie Fuseli with Seth Numrich as Joe Bonaparte. Danny Bustein as Tokio in background.
Photo by Paul Kolnik.

The gangster, Eddie Fuseli (Anthony Crivello), on the other hand, like Joe's trainer, Tokio (Danny Burstein), is captivated by Joe. Fuseli buys a piece of the rising star, and then showers him with gifts of clothing. After a while, Joe begins to dress like his mentor. He takes on the trappings of oppulence, flashy clothes and a fast car. The one woman Joe wants is engaged to Tom Moody. The hubbub of Joe's life is very different from the quiet and peace he felt when he was a champion violin-player as a boy.

Tony Shalhoub as Mr. Bonaparte, Seth Numrich as Joe and Danny Burstein as his trainer, Tokio. Photo by Paul Kolnik.

Given Joe's outsized resentments and grandiosity, it's not hard to sympathize with his detractors, like Moody, or Roxy Gottlieb (Ned Eisenberg), the other member of the syndicate backing him. The press too don't like Joe. Even Joe says, "I don't like myself, past, present and future."    Joe is a discontented soul, out to "show 'em all."

Everything about the LCT production of "Golden Boy" is true to the period it represents, from the brilliant costumes by Catherine Zuber, to the dialect. In fact, as an example of the latter, Yvonne Strahovski, an Austrailian import making her LCT and Broadway debuts, is pitch-perfect as "the tramp from New Jersey."

Overseeing the harmonious presentation, director Bartlett Sher shows his sensitivity and appreciation for Odets's work in all facets of "Golden Boy."

Among the well-directed cast, Michael Aronov stands out as Siggie, Joe's brother-in-law, whose ambitions are homier and more down-to-earth that that of the "Golden Boy." Seth Numrich gives a nuanced performance that keeps him in balance between Joe's insecurity and his bravado. Danny Mastrogiorgio's Tom Moody is so completely natural it's as if he's living the part. Credit Tony Shalhoub for his restraint in underplaying Mr. Bonaparte whom he embues with a resolute strength and sadness.

In fact, there are very few missteps in this "Golden Boy." The only quibble brings us back to the beginning, that the story is by now so familiar that it mostly lacks dramatic surprise. And if it has become an mundane theme, we can lay some of that blame on Clifford Odets.

For more information about "Golden Boy," please visit www.lct.org. 

"A Twist of Water" is a very Personal History Lesson

Rebuilding your home after a disaster is an act of faith that is emblematic of human resilience.

In "A Twist of Water," the Route 66 Theatre Company production playing at 59E59 Theaters through November 25th, the rebuilding is both symbolized by Chicago and extremely personal.

Noah (Stef Tovar) is left to care for the daughter, Jira (Felashay Pearson), he and his partner, Richard, adopted seventeen years ago. Jira and Noah miss Richard very much since his death in a car accident left them to their own devices.

Alex Hugh Brown as Liam and Stef Tovar as Noah in -at 59E59 Theaters. Photo by Carol Rosegg

Jira, angered by the loss, and a teenager, does not make Noah's task of fathering easy.Noah has an ally in fellow teacher Liam (Alex Hugh Brown), who runs interference for this loving family. "If I tell her," Noah says, "that we are all made up of moving water, and unearned hope, and risk... If I tell her she is the only home I require..." Jira's decision to seek out her birth mother, Tia (Lili-Anne Brown), adds to the friction between father and daughter. As Noah says, "Discovery is a wonderful and fearsome thing." 

Stef Tovar as Noah and Falashay Pearson as Jira in “A Twist  of Water” at 59E59 Theaters. Photo by Carol Rosegg

Catilin Parrish (story, playwright) and Erica Weiss (story, director) have collaborated on a very moving tale in "“A Twist  of Water.” They and the cast offer up some very powerful and deeply affecting lessons in love and history. 

 Lili-Anne Brown as Tia and Falashay Pearson as Jira in “A Twist  of Water” at 59E59 Theaters. Photo by Carol Rosegg

The scenic design, by Stephen Carmody, for “A Twist  of Water” is clever, making use of projections (by John Boesche with the assistance of Anna Henson) that help Noah as he unravels Chicago's history of building and rebuilding. This reviewer's fondness for architectural miniatures and models was particularly tickled by Carmody's decorative diorama of the city. 

“A Twist  of Water” is a beautiful and gripping work.

For more information about the Chicago based theatrical group, Route 66, visit www.route66theatre.org.  

For a schedule of performances, please visit www.59e59.org.  

"Don't Go Gentle"

We all know that the scales of justice are often out of balance. 

In Stephen Belber's "Don't Go Gentle," an MCC Theater world premiere at the Lucille Lortel through November 4th,  Lawrence (Michael Cristofer) looks to right that inequity. 

Photo by Joan Marcus. David Wilson Barnes as Ben, Jennifer Mudge as Amelia and Michael Cristofer as Lawrence.

Lawrence, a conservative judge who is sick with cancer, makes end of life assessments and adjustments. Lawrence is concerned over his legacy. In his eagerness to redress wrongs and "evolve" as he puts it, he over-corrects and crosses a line.

Encouraged by his daughter, Amelia (Jennifer Mudge) to give pro bono counsel, Lawrence offers his legal advice to Tanya (Angela Lewis.) Tanya and her teenage son, Rasheed (Maxx Brawer) are badly in need of Lawrence's aid. What starts out as a project to keep Lawrence active, ends by giving him a purpose.

Photo by Joan Marcus. David Wilson Barnes and Michael Cristofer in a scene from "Don't Go Gentle"

Lawrence's decisions rekindle the resentments his children, particularly his son, Ben (David Wilson Barnes) harbor from an unexceptional childhood.

Maxx Brawer, Angela Lewis with David Wilson Barnes in background, and Michael  Cristofer in a photo by Joan Marcus

The acting with Michael Cristofer in the lead, is superb. Newcomer, Maxx Brawer makes the most of Rasheed's gawky but inherent nobility and wisdom. Angela Lewis, David Wilson Barnes and Jennifer Mudge each deiiver little gems of characterization. 

Director Lucie Tiberghien understands and clarifies the moral dilemmas in Belber's wonderfully-written "Don't Go Gentle."  The pacing in each scene of the intermissionless production is perfect.

For more information on MCC Theater and "Don't Go Gentle," please visit www.mcctheater.org.

Disquiet Contemplation in "HIM"

Nature can be both cruel and glorious.

The titular and unseen "HIM" in Daisy Foote's new play, in a Primary Stages production at 59E59 Theaters through October 28th, leaves volumes describing the pleasure he felt sitting on a mountaintop.

Hallie Foote as Pauline and Tim Hopper as Henry in "HIM" at Primary Stages. Photo by James Leynse.

Quiet contemplation is the antithesis of the hubbub of family life. In "HIM." his children see only a remote and withdrawn man. It's not entirely satisfying that so much of the story of "HIM" is pegged to this mysterious disconnection, to what was unknown or unknowable about their father. Nonetheless, there is so much humor  and humanity in "HIM" that the emotional characterizations ring true and clear.

The eldest, Pauline (Hallie Foote) harbors deep resentful hatred for the father she does not understand because of the poverty in which the family has lived. She is ambitious, acquisitive and envious of her better-off neighbors.

Adam LeFevre as Farley and Tim Hopper as Henry in "HIM." Photo by James Leynse.

"We don't have lives," she tells her brother Henry (Tim Hopper), "we have existences." Pauline's burdens which include caring for their retarded brother, Farley (Adam LeFevre), his girlfriend Louise (Adina Verson) and a failing family business are brightened by an unexpected inheritance. Meanwhile, looking for a glimmer of understanding of their father's legacy, Henry wonders, as he reads the journals his father left behind,  "What was he reaching for when he died?"

The small and accomplished cast, ably led by director Evan Yiounoulis, polish the jewel-like dialog in "HIM" to a fine sheen.

Primary Stages is celebrating the Foote Family Legacy this season. So far, they have given us Horton Foote's closely observed vignettes of life in "Harrison, TX" and his daughter Daisy's skillful look at a misappropriated legacy in "HIM." Hallie Foote, the other family treasure, has her deft and subtle acting to both productions.

For more information about Primary Stages and this production of "HIM," visit www.primarystages.org 

He Really Is A Beast, Just Ask Mary Broome

Grace and gentility can attach to anyone in any station in life. It is not reserved for the well-born.

Such sentiments are mostly foreign to us in what we like to consider our egalitarian society, but they are fitting for a long lost English play from 1911 like"Mary Broome," revived by The Mint Theater Company through October 21st. In Allan Monkhouse's sharp comedy/drama, the titular servant has more class and sense than her masters.


The family gather in the parlor: Kristin Griffith as Mrs. Timbrell, Julie Jesnick as Sheila Ray, Katie Fabel as Ada Timbrell, Rod Brogan as Edgar Timbrell, Janie Brookshire as Mary Broome, Graeme Malcolm as Edward Timbrell, and Roderick Hill as Leonard Timbrell in Allan Monkhouse's "Mary Broome," at the Mint. Photo by Carol Rosegg.

Leonard Timbrell (Roderick Hill), the youngest in an affluent family and a ne'er do well , is the least likeable of many flawed characters in "Mary Broome." Leonard's mother, Mrs. Timbrell (Kristin Griffith) is the only one in the family who seems almost beyond reproach. 

Janie Brookshire, Roderick Hill and Kristin Griffith in a photo by Carol Rosegg.

Leonard has charmed and seduced the Timbrell's otherwise sensible parlor maid, Mary Broome (Janie Brookshire.) When his father, Edward (Graeme Malcolm) insists that they marry in exchange for a handsome stipend, Mary reluctantly, and against her better judgement, agrees.

Leonard's brother Edgar (Rod Brogan), his fiance Sheila (Julie Jesnick) and their sister Ada (Katie Fabel) are displeased at having a maid as an in-law. Mrs. Timbrell alone welcomes Mary whole-heartedly. She also hopes that Mary will have a salutory affect on her son.

Leonard's constant disclaimers that he is "a beast" become cloying, disingenuous and self-serving. He is a self-centered cad. Mary, and even his very forgiving mother, eventually catch on to his slippery lack of integrity. Roderick Hill, to his great credit, is not looking to be likeable.
In "Mary Broome," we have snobs and humbugs on the one hand, and a wastrel and bounder on the other, flanked by the women who sometimes find him endearing.

The excellent production, led by director Jonathan Bank, and with piquant sets by Roger Hanna, balances the comic with the serious briliantly. The cast are flawless, even if their characters are not.

The Mint, whose motto is "Lost Plays Found Here," has unearthed another gem.

For more information, and for tickets, visit http://minttheater.org/.





"Heartless" But Not Cruel

It is not unusual for Sam Shepard to baffle even the most intent or admiring observer of his work. The Pulitzer Prize winning playwright knows his way around troubled families.

In "Heartless," his mystifying tale of a family at- home with its dysfunction, at the Pershing Square Signature Center extended through September 30th, nothing is permanent, not even death.

Betty Gilpin as Elizabeth and Julianne Nicholson as Sally in Sam Shepard's "Heartless." Photo (c) Joan Marcus.

There is the suggestion in "Heartless" that dysfunction is a natural state of affairs for families. That despite the fact that very little is normal in this household. Sally (Julianne Nicholson) has been saved by the implant of a murdered girl's heart. Her sister, Lucy (Jenny Bacon) indulges in the futility of curing their mother, Mabel (Lois Smith) of imaginary pains. To complicate matters, Sally has brought Roscoe (Gary Cole), a man estranged from his wife and children, home with her.  

Gary Cole as Roscoe, Betty Gilpin as Elizabeth, Lois Smith as Mabel, Jenny Bacon as Lucy (on roof), and Julianne Nicholson as Sally in "Heartless." Photo (c) Joan Marcus. 

"Heartless" is a confounding dramatic piece with a majestic breadth reflected in the set. The sparse yet expansive scenic design by Eugene Lee creates a vast landscape on which the story is played out. Daniel Aukin's able directing of the fine ensemble cast respects the disjunctive rhythms of "Heartless."

Lois Smith stands out in this fantastic panoply of actors. "Heartless" is, after all, also about the kind of cruelty that is typical of mother-love. Mabel is fiercely protective of Sally, who needs saving from night terrors and bad memories, and maybe even the accident of living.

For more information about "Heartless," and the new Signature Theatre season, please go to http://www.signaturetheatre.org/shows-and-events/index.aspx

"Slowgirl" exhilirates

"Slowgirl" at Claire Tow

So often it happens that bad things come from the exercise of poor judgement.

In Greg Pierce's "Slowgirl," produced by LCT3 at the new Claire Tow Theaer, and in a twice-extended run through August 5th, there is plenty of anguish to go around.

A tragedy brings Becky (Sarah Steele) to seek haven with her uncle Sterling (Željko Ivanek).

Like Becky, Sterling is harboring a secret.  The fast-talking Becky and her near-silent uncle are each complicit and share a sense of guilt for very different incidents in their lives.

Sarah Steele and Željko Ivanek Photo © Erin Baiano.

The mystery that is buried in "Slowgirl"unravels over four scenes at Sterling's Costa Rican jungle home.
Sterling's affection for his niece eventually gives him the impetus to move ahead.

Sarah Steele's privileged 17-year old hides her pain in bravado. Hers is a smooth and seamless performance. In the diminutive and lovely Claire Tow Theater, its easy to see Željko Ivanek's every raised eyebrow. His dismay as Becky chatters, blurting every inappropriate thought, is beautifully nuanced and perfectly timed.  Anne Kaufman's direction allows the plot to unfold unexpectedly, keeping the enigmaiic center of "Slowgirl" alive throughout.

The sets, by Rachel Hauck, and sound, by Leah Gelpe, imaginatively invoke the bucolic tropical forest.  Their designs add to the simple exoticism of "Slowgirl."

To get tickets and find out more about "Slowgirl" visit http://www.lincolncentertheater.org/.

Željko Ivanek Photo © Erin Baiano.

A word about the theater at LCT3:

The Claire Tow Theater sits atop the Vivian Beaumont and Mitzi Newhouse Theaters on the Lincoln Center Campus at 63rd and Broadway. The newly-built LEED-certified strucure is really extremely beautiful. It features along with its expertly designed 112 seat interior, a green roof; insulated glass and recycled materials were used in its construction.

The Claire Tow is a breathtaking space in which to showcase the works of emerging playwrights.

Setting Hillside Fires

Theo Stockman as Danny Mueller and Gordon Clapp as his Pop, Emil in David Rabe’s “An Early History of Fire.” Photo © Monique Carboni.

Watching things burn has an almost universal fascination. In "An Early History of Fire," at The New Group at Theatre Row through May 26th, Danny Mueller (Theo Stockman) and his friends Terry (Jonny Orsini) and Jake (Dennis Staroselsky) have graduated from setting fires on the hillside to blue collar jobs in their small mid-western hometown.

Jake is a disgruntled, misogynistic bully. Terry reflects his sweetness on everyone. "This is a nice town," he tells Danny, "with nice people in it. Why would you want to leave?" Danny yearns to escape from the town and his Pop, Emil's, (Gordon Clapp) household where he feels like the family drudge.

Devin Ratray as Benji and Gordon Clapp as Emil in David Rabe’s “An Early History of Fire.” Photo © Monique Carboni.

Emil is a self-aggrandizing narcissist, who is dependent on Danny since he lost his menial job. His ego is buoyed by the mentally challenged Benji (Devin Ratray) who doggedly accompanies in his idleness. Danny rejects his father's conventional suggestion that he finish college as a way out.

Danny is ambivalent about the rich college girl, Karen Edwards (Claire van der Boom), who fulfils his dreams of aspiration. He is both attracted and repelled by the genteel. Nonetheless, Karen and Danny get each other, even though he is not as simple as she wished when they first met.

Theo Stockman as Danny, Claire van der Boom as Karen, Jonny Orsini as Terry and Dennis Staroselsky as Jake in David Rabe’s “An Early History of Fire.” Photo © Monique Carboni

Karen, apparently an avid reader, quotes Kerouac, Salinger, and a little Ginsberg. She was looking for a bit of Lady Chatterley's experience with someone with "a strong back and a weak mind," she says. She is his ticket out even if he is only a diversion for her.

Theo Stockman as Danny, Dennis Staroselsky as Jake, Erin Darke as Shirley, Jonny Orsini as Terry and Claire van der Boom as Karen, in David Rabe’s “An Early History of Fire.” Photo © Monique Carboni

The atmosphere in "An Early History of Fire," is not especially heated. There are confrontations but their intensity is banked, and they are not full-out battles. The actors all encapsulate the thin distinctions of class in an era in small-town 1960s on the brink of monumental change.

Stockman's Danny is stolid, stumbling on a path that may give him the future for which he hopes. It's Staroselsky's Jake whose character is most combustible, hiding his sense of inferiority and misogyny behind a rakish charm. Gordon Clapp plays an Emil who has a capacity to disappoint anyone who relies on him.

Everyone in the fine cast treats the material in Rabe's excellent new play tenderly. For more information and a schedule of performances, visit www.thenewgroup.org

Year of Creative Scotland 2012: A Festival

Gerda Stevenson, playwright, director, actor (as Flo) and-Dave Anderson (as Jimmy) in “Murray Versus Federer.” Photo courtesy Communicado Theatre Company

Who doesn't like a festival? Embedded int he word is the possibilty of a happy-- okay, festive-- occasion. Everybody enjoys a celebration. What we are celebrating at 59E59 Theaters' "Scotland Week" are a couple of Scotland's fine playwrights and their supporting casts. The plays, "A Slow Air" by David Harrower, running through April 29th, and Gerda Stevenson's "Murray Versus Federer," on stage through April 22nd, are serious, even grim affairs. The latter about a couple, grieving over the loss of a son in war, and at war with each other. The former about a pair of siblings that have been estranged for the past fourteen years.

That is not to say that there is not plenty to celebrate here.

While "Murray Versus Federer" is written in short-hand, like the radio plays Stevenson scripts for the BBC, it is an intelligent and moving tale. It needs more time to pursue its subject in depth and allow its characters their full development, but what it gives us is subtle and well-written.

Gerda Stevenson, (as Flo) and Dave Anderson (as Jimmy) in “Murray vs Federer.” Photo © Jessica Brettle.

Grief is personal even when it's shared. In "Murray Versus Federer," Flo (Gerda Stevenson, also the writer and director), and Jimmy (Dave Anderson) are rent asunder in their bereavement. Their differences in temperament are underscored by their loss. Resentments lead them to blame each other.

"Well, tell me this, Mr. Expert," Flo says, "how come you kept yer mooth shut when Joe joined up? How come ye didnae dae yer schoolboy homework then, eh?" Jimmy explodes back at her "I'll no keep ma mooth shut just to keep a phoney fuckin peace in this hoose, a phoney fuckin peace that's packed wi lies. My son died fur lies, lies!" In "Murray Versus Federer," Flo and Jimmy share the stage with the memory of Joe, a Saxophonist (Ben Bryden), who alternately plays sad, soulful and jazzy tunes between the five short scenes.

"Murray Versus Federer," despite its brevity and because of the excellent acting, is affecting and intimate. The set by Jessica Brettle turns the small space into an elaborate living room with the catty-corner walls providing both background and a scrim behind which the Saxophonist is introduced.

Dave Anderson (as Jimmy) in “Murray vs Federer.” Photo © Jessica Brettle.

In "A Slow Air," the siblings long estrangement is temperamental as much as circumstantial. Athol (Lewis Howden)is a steady hard-working bloke whose built a business in construction and lives in the suburbs. His sister, Morna (Susan Vidler) is a free-spirited and rebellious single mother who cleans rich folks' houses. Like the dimly lit stage it occupies, "A Slow Air" fails to illuminate any of the many themes on which it touches.

Susan Vidler as Morna and Lewis Howden as Athol, across a divide created by Jessica Brettle's set design in “A Slow Air,” written and directed by David Harrower. Photo © John Johston.

"A Slow Air" is structured as a double monologue. On the darkened stage (lighting by Dave Shea), in "A Slow Air" Jessica Brettle has designed a simple set on a roughly tiled floor that divides the two monologists. There is a high window on the back wall, and two wooden armchairs to which Athol and Morna withdraw like boxers into their corners.

For more information about the nearly month-long Scotland Week at 59E59 Theaters, please visit their website at www.59E59.org.

A Feast Awaits

So much of our lives play out around dining tables, often even at non-descript restaurants.

Phoebe Strole, Cameron Scoggins, Jennifer Mudge, Anita Gillette, Tom Bloom. Photo by Joan Marcus
Dan LeFranc's "The Big Meal," at Playwrights Horizons in an extended run through April 22nd, has an unusual structure, without being in any way avant-garde or revolutionary. It simply stretches an extraordinary timeline, covering some eighty years in a family's life. In "The Big Meal," LeFranc chronicles a family over many seatings at a generically favorite restaurant.

David Wilson Barnes, Jennifer Mudge, Anita Gilette, Tom Bloom, Rachel Resheff. Photo byJoan Marcus.

The writing, the acting, the pace of the direction, all tell this engaging story that begins with Nicky (Phoebe Strole in this incarnation) and Sam (Cameron Scoggins) on their first dates. They meet, flirt, fight, and eventually reconnect, older (Jennifer Mudge is now Nicky with David Wilson Barnes playing Sam) and ready to commit. Sam and Nicky hang in over many more drinks and dinners, bringing their kids, Maddy and Robbie (Rachel Resheff and Griffin Birney) out to eat with Sam's parents, Alice (Anita Gillette) and Robert (Tom Bloom.)

Carmeron Scoggins, Phoebe Strole. Photo by Joan Marcus

The actors rotate into the characters as they age, picking up the nuances from generation to generation. "We really started something," Anita Gillette says late in "The Big Meal."

Anita Gilette,Molly Ward, Tom Bloom. Photo by Joan Marcus

"The Big Meal" is delightful in its simplicity and authenticity. For tickets and information about "The Big Meal," go to www.playwrightshorizons.org.

The Weekend Report

Those of us lucky enough to have a weekend, don't have Daniel for a boss.

Rich, powerful, charismatic and abusive, Daniel is an off-stage presence in "Assistance," at Playwrights Horizons through March 11. Daniel is unseen and unheard-- calling in to his minions from London and Tokyo.

Vince's (Lucas Near-Verbrugghe), Nick's (Michael Esper) and Nora's (Virginia Kull) reactions are the witness to his rants against their incompetence and grammatical failings. Meltdowns are legion as are firings.

Virginia Kull as Nora with Amy Rosoff as Jenny in background. Photo © Joan Marcus

Leslye Headland's paean to the working classes. Well to those enthrall to the great wealth and financial success of ogreish moguls.

Lucas Near-Verbrugghe as Vince and Michael Esper as Nick. Photo © Joan Marcus

Serving a petty tyrant is a choice for these young people. Jenny (Amy Rosoff) is thrilled at the chance to work more closely with Daniel, for instance. The hapless Heather (Sue Jean Kim), on the other hand, chooses her uncle's funeral over an assignment in Chicago, with seemingly dire consequences for her.

Sue Jean Kim as Heather. Photo © Joan Marcus

Bobby Steggert's Justin has a short but convincing stint on stage, demonstrating just how far around the bend the Daniels of this world can take their proteges.

The players in "Assistance" under Trip Cullman's deft direction are all splendid. In the surprise coda to "Assistance," Amy Rosoff exhibits outstanding and completely unexpected talents.

The assistants in "Assistance" might benefit from a workplace drug like the one in Kate Fodor's "Rx." (See commentary on "Rx.")

Visit www.playwrightshorizons.org for a schedule of performances. Over at the glassworks, power also wrests in the master's hands.

In "Rutherford & Son," at The Mint Theater Company through April 8th, playwright Githa Sowerby captured the tone and cadence of a miserable rural life, both in John Rutherford's (Robert Hogan) home and his factory. He has sacrificed his children's happiness to respectability and financial success.

See video

Rutherford & Son at the Mint Theater from Mint Theater Company on Vimeo.

It's easy to see why "Rutherford & Son" was a sensation when it had its premiere at London's Royal Court Theatre in 1912 and then again a few months later when it opened on Broadway. Githa Sowerby understood not only the mores of a small town but also the ebb and flow of business.

David Van Pelt as Martin and Sara Surrey as Janet. Photo © Richard Termine

The fine cast under Jonathan Bank's sure-handed direction also understand the rhythms of this old-fashioned but very modern play. Sara Surrey particularly stands out as John Rutherford's embittered spinster daughter, Janet, and Eli James is exceptional as his thwarted and feckless son, John.

For more information and a schedule of performances, please visit www.minttheater.org.

Working it in a completely different way were the guitarists (and their ensembles) Doug Wamble and Nino Joselle in Jazz Meets Flamenco at JALC's Allen Room on February 24th and 25th, with two remarkable dancers, Jason Samuel Smith representing the jazz-tap side and Juan De Juan onboard to represent Flamenco.

See pictures from the show here.

Jazz at Lincoln Center invited the two guitarists to showcase their flamenco sensibilities. Doug Wamble rose to the occasion with a composition for reeds (John Ellis), bass (Eric Revis), drums (Rudy Royston) and most importantly tap (Jason Samuel Smith.) "The Traveler" is a song cycle, performed by Mr. Wamble and his ensemble, and punctuated by very fancy footwork by Mr. Smith.

The Flamenco side of the program, represented by the incredible and fierce Juan De Juan, dancing to the music performed by Mr. Joselle and his bassist (John Benitez) and percussionist (Horatio "El Negro" Hernandez) won the dance off despite Mr. Smith's accomplished performance. Juan De Juan accomplishes the seemingly impossible in his Flamenco interpretations.

The special treat here was watching Jason Samuel Smith and Juan De Juan together for the finale of the program.

For more information about Jazz At Lincoln Center programs, visit www.jalc.org. The Flamenco Festival 2012 in New York City continues this month with, among other venues, performances at New York City. Visit www.nycitycenter.org for more information.

"The Fall to Earth" can be very crushing

At first there is nothing ominous, just mild bickering on the other side of the motel room door.

Jolie Curtsinger as Rachel, Deborah Hedwall as Fay in “The Fall To Earth” by Joel Drake Johnson in a photo © John Quilty

But as it progresses, Joel Drake Johnson's "The Fall to Earth," at 59E59 Theaters through February 5th in its New York City premiere, is darkly funny, even grisly at times.

Deborah Hedwall as Fay with Jolie Curtsinger as Rachel in “The Fall To Earth” by Joel Drake Johnson in a photo © John Quilty

Rachel Browney (Jolie Curtsinger) and her mother Fay Schorsch (Deborah Hedwall) have come to this small town where her brother Kenny lived. The trip brings them together at a difficult time, but as we find out in "The Fall To Earth" there probably were no easy times in the Schorsch household.

Jolie Curtsinger as Rachel, Deborah Hedwall as Fay and Amelia Campbell as Terry in “The Fall To Earth” by Joel Drake Johnson in a photo © John Quilty

As Rachel and her mom learn more about what happened to Kenny, Rachel mutters "I could have been a nicer sister," to the police officer, Terry Reed (Amelia Campbell). "I could have been."

How well did either mother or daughter know him? Terry reveals some secrets about Kenny that the women may have suspected, but it is clear that the entire family have been out of touch for a long time.

Deborah Hedwall as Fay with Jolie Curtsinger as Rachel in “The Fall To Earth” by Joel Drake Johnson in a photo © John Quilty

Keeping you on the edge of your seat and thoroughly engaged, "The Fall To Earth" takes many a surprise turn as it unfolds.

"The Fall To Earth" also benefits from an excellent cast, and the deft direction of Joe Brancato, and the versatile set designs by James J. Fenton.

Jolie Curtsinger (also a producing partner at InProximity Theatre Company which is a presenter of this production) plays a wary Rachel. Deborah Hedwall, as Fay, screeches, screams, rants, hectors, cajoles, chatters and whines in a brilliant arc of dysfunction. Rachel has her own reasons to be secretive and distrustful around Fay.

For a schedule of performances, please visit www.59e59,org.

For more information about InProximity Theatre Company, which produces New York City premieres, go to www.inproximitytheatre.org