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Regional Reviews: New Jersey Gentle 100 Saints Notable for Impressive Performances
Father Matthew, an intelligent Harvard educated, gentle and likable, I would presume in his late 30s, priest shows up at his mother's home "on vacation" seeking quiet and rest from his parish duties. His Ireland born mother, Colleen, who is a bit silly and distracted by nature, is more puzzled than welcoming. However, we are not made aware of Matthew having any difficulty until well into the first act, when the teenaged Garrett, making a delivery from his parent's grocery store, encounters Matthew and mentions to him that his father told him to stay away from Matthew because Matthew is a "fag." It seems that Garrett has found himself attracted to gay porn, and had hoped to be counseled by Matthew. Late in the first act, it is revealed that a parishioner found stylized art photographs of naked men in Matthew's drawer, and, as a result, he has been asked to take a three month leave from his duties to set his mind in order. Then Matthew is to report back for an interview with his bishop which will determine his future status. Matthew also seems to be having a crisis as to his faith. Theresa is a very smart daughter of academic parents who, in her youth, had turned on, tuned in and dropped out, joining the hippie drug and free love movement (which I would think would make this play a period piece, although there is nothing on stage to indicate this). The end result is that she is a single mother with a rebellious, self destructive, 16-year-old daughter, Abby, who is employed by a cleaning service. One of her jobs is to clean Matthew's rectory where she has met him. On a pretext, Theresa comes to Matthew's mother's house seeking personal solace from Matthew. Waiting for her outside the house, Abby meets the troubled Garrett. An accident ensues which provides the impetus for Colleen and Matthew, and Theresa and Abby, to examine themselves and, hopefully, change the dynamics of their relationship for the better. Although we are led to think differently throughout most of 100 Saints, homosexuality and crises of faith are only tertiary issues here. We never definitively learn the extent of any possible homosexuality within Matthew. As he says, since he is celibate, it does not matter. And Fodor, without displaying any rancor toward the Catholic Church, takes it as a granted that religion has little to offer in modern society. The subject here is the importance of the relationship between parent and child. 100 Saints is about three parents (one unseen) and their three troubled children (the now adult Father Matthew, Abby and Garrett) who have been hurt and handicapped by poor parenting. Outstanding among the strong performances is that of Beth Painter, who engages our sympathy by embodying the world weariness, ineffectuality, and near hopelessness of an intelligent, feeling woman who is trying to alleviate the damage her youthful misbehavior has done to her daughter. Hannah Painter, Beth Painter's real life daughter, is totally convincing as the slutty, cruel and deeply unhappy Abby. It is a realistic performance which makes it appear that producing Alliance Rep had found just such a youngster for the part. Now that's acting. Paul Zeller is a likeable and sympathetic Father Matthew. Zeller is a bit diffident as Matthew, but diffident is a most viable interpretation for this role. The reliable Noreen Farley hits all the right notes as the off-centered, cynically amusing Colleen. And her uncanny Irish accent entertains all by itself. Aaron Black fully captures the hurt and confusion that motivates the actions of Garrett. The master hand behind these excellent performances is director Michael Driscoll who, as an adjunct to his directorial skills, displays great sensitivity and empathy for Kate Fodor's characters. 100 Saints You Should Know continues performances (Evenings: Thursday (4/11), Friday and Saturday 8 pm/ Mat.: Sun.(4/7) 2 pm) through April 13, 2013 at the Alliance Repertory Theatre in residence at the Edison Valley Playhouse, 2196 Oak Tree Road, Edison, NJ; Box Office: 908-755-4654; online: www.AllianceRep.org. 100 Saints You Should Know by Kate Fodor; directed by Michael Driscoll Father Matthew
..Paul Zeller
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