Outside Mullingar

In a charming single act, playwright, John Patrick Shanley, doesn't cease to entertain in this quirky Irish romantic comedy.  As with all thing Irish, there's always alcohol and death - but those aspects aside, Mr. Shanley rises above the expected dirge to present a lighthearted evening of theatre.

The delightful cast of a foursome consisting of a single parent from each of Debra Messing (Rosemary Muldoon), Brian F O'Byrne (Anthony Reiley) - the incomparable Dearbhla Molloy (Aoife Muldoon) and the lovable yet cantankerous Peter Maloney (Tony Reiley) do not disappoint.  Except for Ms. Messing, it seems the other 3 speak or at least were raised with a true Irish brogue and while Ms. Messing does a capable job, you can tell it's not her natural voice.

The follies of the family unfold in about 100 minutes and it's just the perfect timing for this tale.  Despite a curve ball being thrown by Mr. O'Byrne just before the end - you still suspect it's likely to turn out happy in the end.  But you'll have to wait to see just how it all plays out at the Friedman Theatre (i still call it the Biltmore myself) on West 47th.

bottom of the world

A new work by Lucy Thurber (last Atlantic production was Scarcity with Kristen Johnson and Michael T. Weiss) made it's debut on Stage 2 at the Atlantic Theatre Company this past week.  Bottom of the World explores the cycle of life and death via a complex set of family relationships and visions of an "alternate family" as seen through both the author of a recently published book (the dead sister) and the reader (the surviving sister).    What made it slightly more complex was that the story was told through the eyes of a family that had two brothers, rather than the two sisters and each had parents - all of course played by the same actors in parallel.  Yikes!  Attention must be paid.

There are a few facts I wish we knew up front - such as why one sister was black and one was white.  Blind casting, i thought?  Alas, they had two separate fathers.  In the meantime, I had already noticed that the brothers who paralleled the sisters were also white and black.  Then somewhere in the middle we learn the one sister was a lesbian.  There was no parallel gay character, but indeed other concepts ran in parallel.  Focus, Focus!

I will note there was some delicious talent in this one.  Intelligent writing, for sure (Lucy) - but I'd go on to say a few stand-outs were cast - Crystal A. Dickinson (Abagail) and Aubrey Dollar (Susan/Dana), Brendan Griffin (Josh) and Brandon J. Dirden (Ely).   Kudos to the set designer,  Walt Spangler.  I think all those 2x4's that were the set were supposed to represent the tangled roots of a tree turned upside down (just like the play's logo).  Sometimes your life can get turned upside down - is what I took away as the symbolism.  The musicians (a banjo and a fiddle) lingering up in the tree (the roots, i suppose) provided tasteful and melodic background and mood music - just like the birds would.  Nice touch.

Woven throughout the tapestry of this play is the theme that we should all notice the ones we love (i.e pay attention!) and love the ones we notice.   Well, I noticed this play on-line today - and I really loved it.  I hope you get the chance too -  before it's too late.

To Be or Not To Be

A well acted, yet disappointing production is currently languishing at the Biltmore Theatre (I know, it's now the Friedman) at the Manhattan Theatre Club.  A little bit of a play within a play concept going on here;  Throw in a lot of Hitler jokes;  Add a dash of humor and you've got Nick Whitby's To Be Or Not To Be.   

Based on the 1941 original and subsequent 1983 Motion picture staring Mel Brooks, this stage production seemed to pale in comparison.  Perhaps that was Nick Whitby's interpretation or possibly Casey Nicholaw's direction or maybe both.  Or maybe it was just the fact that taking a motion picture and turning it into a play doesn't always work. Strangely enough, I felt that this was somehow intentionally staged to compete with Roundabout's The 39 Steps.  I think RTC won that contest hands down.   Stop copying.  Start pioneering.  Welcome Back Lynne Meadow.

You'd better get to work.  You are 0 for 2 so far this season.  Barry Grove's choices that you are now stuck executing appear to be miserable failures.

It's not particularly knee slapping funny, but it's not a flop either.  Entertaining, yes.  Run-don't-Walk, no.   Run time is about 2 hours (thankfully).  The story doesn't really have much more in it to last any longer.  I have to say that the ending (at least what you perceive as the ending) is odd.   Thankfully someone threw in one last joke to let you leave the theatre with a smile.   To Go or Not to Go?  Don't rush.

Dinner at Eight