Displaying items by tag: The Athenaeum Theatre

Wednesday, 07 October 2015 17:17

Step Up Production's "Barefoot in the Park" Lukewarm in Love Department

(left to right) Alex Fisher, Sara Minton and Colin Sphar in Step Up Productions’ BAREFOOT IN THE PARK by Neil Simon, directed by Michael Driscoll.

Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park" is one of my favorite comedies.

Simon so perfectly captures the dynamics of a new couple moving in together as newlyweds and the pressures that begin to erode or test their love as soon as they move in. Cory and Paul's lack of money for a proper New York apartment presents all sorts of great comedy as they end up in a sixth floor walk up with a hole in the skylight and no heat or bathtub in the dead of winter.

Alex Fisher, as the young bride has a great frenetic and appropriately sexy, horny energy as she is faced with challenge after challenge to please her new husband who is a temporarily broke new lawyer.

Colin Sphar, as her husband is funny in places but by the time he gets to his drunk scene, which has a lot of good physical comedy in it by him, we hear a full out lisp in his portrayal that distracts from his performance. The kissing and hugging chemistry between these two is not as white hot as you'd expect in roles that were originally played in the film by super sexy Jane Fonda and Robert Redford.

The scene-stealers in this production turn out to be in the two mature character actors Sarah Minton, as Cory's aging but game for anything single mother and their upstairs, crazy neighbor played by Michael Pascas.

Minton and Pascas are so good at their comic timing and so full of rich character and chemistry we ended up rooting for them to get together more than we were hoping for Cory and Paul, the leads, to STAY together.

Also, Randolph Johnson, as the ATT phone installer, has an adorable, compassionate, calming quality that helps ground the piece every time he enters the scene.

The set design is great, with each part of the aging apartment clearly visible and very realistic.

Overall the play, which is long and includes two ten minute intermissions, has a lot of good energy and fun, especially if you grew up back in the day when the new wife was supposed to make everything nice and happy at home while the new husband goes out into the world to have all the fun and challenge of a real job.

“Barefoot in the Park” is being performed at The Athenaeum through November 1st. For tickets, performance times and other show info, visit www.athenaeumtheatre.org.

Published in Theatre in Review

Review: Ruckus' "Matawan" at The Athenaeum Theatre

With Jaws having just swam back into theaters for its fortieth anniversary and recent shark attacks in North Carolina, The Ruckus' world premiere of 'Matawan' comes at a perfect time. Playwright Dan Caffrey set out to write a play that captures the time period of the early 1900s, an era he always felt was glossed over in school. This new work tells the story of a small New England town dealing with a killer shark. Sound familiar? The 1916 great white shark attacks off the coast of New Jersey were the basis for Peter Benchly's novel Jaws. Until 1916 very little was known about sharks and most people believed they did not attack bathers.

At it's core 'Matawan' is less a play about a man-eating shark and more about fear. Even the shark has a fear-soaked narrative throughout the show. The large cast of characters and well-written vignettes all deal with anxieties concerning war, globalization, disease and life happiness. For the first time in history, Americans were economically comfortable enough to have the luxury to look outside themselves and Caffrey captures this ever-relevant sense of impending doom that seems to consume most people today too.

One might wonder how it's possible to depict a shark attack on stage. Director Allison Shoemaker makes really bold choices with her production. Instead of gruesome displays of blood and guts, Shoemaker's attacks are almost sexual in nature. In fact, the entire production is so very craftily done. Actors play instruments to simulate sound effects and the result is genuinly creepy.

Caffrey delivers a truly unique script. The subject matter poses some obvious logistical problems but the creative team at The Ruckus show they're more than capable of taking on this challenge. Not only was the production insightful but also exceedingly well acted. How often can a shark make you misty? (John J Accrocco)

Through July 26th at The Athenaeum Theatre. 2963 N Southport Ave. 773-935-6860

Published in Theatre in Review

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