The Treasurer

A touching new play by a terrific American playwright, Max Posner.  The Treasurer tells the tale of an elderly mother, Ida Armstrong (Deanna Dunagan) who is slowly losing her mind, spent most of her money now whose children, primarily her son (Peter Friedman) must pay for her.  They love her.  They were never a close family.  Now her son is tired of paying.  How far will his generosity go?  How much will she get away with in asking him to spend?  How much longer will she have the few marbles she has left.  Ms. Dunagan mesmerizes in her performance, as if she knows what it is like to be in such a state.

This is the story of family, of devotion, and of the limits of the aforementioned topics.  What do we owe our parents?  These questions and this play push the limits and test the boundaries of aging, money, and family.  A well written, thoughtful work meant to get you thinking and feeling.

August: Osage County

I've been wrong before. This time, it's no different. "No, I don't want to go sit thru a 3 hours and 30 minute dirge!" Well, after reading the review and hearing the buzz, I changed my mind. Boy-oh-boy, was that a great decision.

A few notes - it's not a dirge, it doesn't seem like 3 hours (two 10 minute intermissions make up the rest) and it was worth every penny i spent on the ticket ($99 bucks, left orchestra).

Go see this ensemble. They are tops. A testament to the quality of the show - just about every seat in the Imperial Theater (that's 1400+ seats, folks) was occupied! For a play, no less. Amazing. The full company, direct from Chicago, and the Steppenwolf Theater Company has taken Broadway by storm. While there is no billed "star", clearly Deanna Dunnigan rules the roost as family matriarch Violet Weston.

The drama on stage kept you engaged the entire time, in no small part due to the biting writing of Tracy Letts and the brilliant direction of Anna D. Shapiro. The set, a dollhouse replica of a house on the plains in Oklahoma, was brilliantly envisioned and masterfully executed.

I won't give away a stitch of the plot, the twists and turns or the outcome. That, my friends is for you to experience yourselves. Pop a pill or two and fasten your seat belt. The next 3.5 hours are going to be a bumpy ride!