At the Signature Theater held over until October 4.
Just when I thought we could go to the lobby at intermission for coffee, this long one-act play was over without sufficient resolution. I’m a die-hard Gurney fan so this play was a must-see, but it was disappointing. A WASP heiress, played by Maureen Anderman, is possibly losing her marbles when her young lawyer, played by Joe Paulik, shows up and a surprise guest, played by Gabriel Brown, also arrives as a con artist. Do we believe the heiress knows what she’s doing and can defend herself? The usual Gurney wit is there but not the usual insight into the human condition. This play could use a second act. Other recent Gurney plays, Family Furniture and Black Tie, were funnier and more profound.
It should be noted that the Signature Theater is a weird venue, designed by Frank Gehry, and opened in 2012. It has deliberately cheap materials in the lobby that serve perhaps to help beg the audience for donations. This building creates no warmth and has a confusing central area. –Patty
© 2015 by Patricia N. Saffran. All rights reserved.
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