|
Regional Reviews: New Jersey The Realization of Emily Linder Rewards the Patient Viewer Also see Bob's reviews of Ernest Shackleton Loves Me, Tar Beach, Rapture, Blister, Burn, Lost in History and Your Blues Ain't Sweet Like Mine
As the play begins, Emily is returning to her house following her hospitalization for the removal of her toes. She gathers her daughters around her and informs them that she has had a premonition that tomorrow after midnight she is going to die in her sleep. Emily is certain this will happen because she had fulfilled premonitions of the times of death of both her mother and her husband. Emily also dispenses orders to her daughters, Janet and Margaret, as to who will write the funeral eulogy, what information will appear in her obituary, where the services will be held, and who is not to attend her funeral, as well as what preparations her daughters are to make for the upcoming party for her birthday, which they insist on planning despite Emily's insistence that it will not occur because she will predecease it. Silently present in the parlor during this conversation is Jennifer, a young woman just hired by Janet to be Emily's new home aide caregiver. This was necessitated by Emily's having fired her last caregiver after unreasonably not allowing her to do her job. Experienced and alert theatergoers will know to keep a sharp eye on Jennifer. Throughout the first of its two acts, Realization struck this reviewer as a depressing play about an unpleasant topic, particularly so for older viewers, such as myself. However, the second act contains a stream of revelations which are so surprising and engrossing, so wittily and cleverly set-up, and so intelligent and satisfying as to turn matters around a full 180 degrees, and turn Realization into a smart, richly satisfying entertainment. There is a major revelation, which author Richard Strand has adroitly constructed, that must remain for the penultimate scene (after all, there remains Emily's fate for us to learn in the final scene). However, there is such a great deal of information in the second act "stream" of revelations that moving a portion of it into the first act in order to enrich its content and broaden its focus would likely benefit the play. Richard Strand, whose popular Civil War play Butler (which world premiered here last summer) defied expectations by developing into a comedy, continues his genre-defying ways with Realization, a mystery of which we are unaware until it is solved. In the role of Emily, Marnie Andrews delivers a smooth, ingratiating performance. However, a bit more snappishness in interpreting the role would make it more interesting. Still, the clarity of the writing fully defines Emily for us. Corey Tazmania portrays Emily's daughter Janice, a high powered Chicago lawyer who has made one of her rare trips home to Iowa because of her mother's hospitalization. Tazmania's masterful interpretation of a deadly shark of a lawyer crackles with electricity and is a damn good show in and of itself. Thus, it is with trepidation that I note that we would likely care more for Janice if the role were interpreted to include more of a gap between the carriage and tone of the Chicago legal beagle and the concerned daughter and sister. Dana Benningfield perfectly captures the frailty and debilitating lack of self-confidence which has been seared into her being by the disdain with which she is treated by Emily and Janet. It is painful, as it should be, to see her appear to literally shrink before our eyes beneath their onslaught. Jenny Vallancourt is adorable perfection as the too good to be true Jennifer. Director SuzAnne Barabas has matched author Richard Strand in deftly concealing and delivering the clever and satisfying surprises that are in store for the viewer of the world premiere of The Realization of Emily Linder. The Realization of Emily Linder continues performances (Evenings: Thursday, Friday, Saturday 8 pm; Sunday 7 pm/ Matinees: Saturday 3 pm; Sundays 2 pm) through May 24, 2015, at the New Jersey Repertory Company, 179 Broadway, Long Branch, New Jersey 07740; box office: 732-229-3166; online: www.njrep.org. The Realization of Emily Linder by Richard Strand; directed by SuzAnne Barabas Cast
|
