THEATRE REVIEW:
KPBS
AIRDATE: August 22, 2003
Facing down your demons and confronting
your past. Two amusing and intelligent dramas examine the paths not taken and
the selves left behind.
On the small scale, there's Joe
Pintauro's "Beside Herself" at 6th@Penn Theatre, and on a much larger
canvas, North Coast Repertory Theatre presents Donald Margulies'
thought-provoking "Sight Unseen." This is the third time Margulies'
deep and delicious play has been done in San Diego; the first, ten years ago,
just after the play premiered, starred David Ellenstein, who recently took over
as North Coast Rep's artistic director. Now, once again, he becomes
internationally acclaimed artist Jonathan Waxman, who visits Patricia, his
college lover and muse, to find part of what he's left behind. Not only has he
lost his parents, and his first love, but he's lost his way. He fears he can't
retrieve his early passion, perhaps even his talent, as he's sucked into the
politics and power of the high-stakes art world. As the play ricochets back and
forth in time, we see who Jonathan and Patricia used to be, when they were true
to themselves and their passions. We're shown the devolution of their
relationship, the amorality of the art arena, the price of fame, the paranoia
of Jewish identity, the cost of an unresolved father-son connection and the value
of values. The play is powerful, and the production is muscular, though it's
lacking nuance and edge. The performances are superb, under the direction of
the much-missed Ralph Elias. Ellenstein captures the humor, arrogance and
anguish of Jonathan, and DeAnna Driscoll is marvelous as Patricia, both in her
older and younger incarnations. Tim West does wonderful work as Nick, Patty's
taciturn, oddball English husband, but he's a bit too bitter, so we don't give
credence to his trenchant insights about modern art. Jennifer Eve Kraus
continues her theatrical winning streak as the provocative German journalist
who baits Brooklyn-born Jonathan in a subtly anti-Semitic interview. Plan an
extended evening for this Top Choice; you'll be talking about it long after
it's over.
The cleverly titled "Beside
Herself" may also make you look within. As a widowed older woman cleans
out her cabin set in an isolated, island-bound bog, she's visited by her former
self, at three earlier times, and she's forced to justify the choices she's
made and the risks not taken. Fascinating way to view an inner monologue and
watch someone's life literally pass before her eyes. Solidly directed by
Bernard Baldan, the cast features vigorous performances by Jeannette Horn as
the older Mary, and Laurie Lehmann-Gray, Shannon Diana and Catie Marron as her
former selves, with excellent support from Robert Borzych as the neurotic young
UPS man who offers Mary another chance.
Give your own life a second glance and
catch these two shows if you can.
©2003
Patté Productions Inc.