Ripcord

Ripcord

Manhattan Theatre Club

New York City Center Stage I

October 3, 2015

Photo courtesy of
Manhattan Theatre Club

Ripcord, a new comedy written by David Lindsay-Abaire, is now playing at Manhattan Theatre Club’s New York City Center Stage I.  The production is witty and charming.  The script is lighthearted, touching, frivolous, and sincere.  The cast is crisp and the directing is clean. 

Abby (played by Holland Taylor) has a new roommate at the Bristol Place Assisted Living Facility.  She is energetic, cheery, and optimistic, and Abby wants her out.  Marilyn (played by Marylouise Burke), the new roommate, is comfortable with Abby’s company and happy with the bright sunlight in her new room.  She has no intention of leaving.  They make a bet.  If Abby can make Marilyn angry, she gets the room to herself.  If Marilyn can break Abby’s hard outer shell and scare her, she gets the bed closer to the window.  Both women are stubbornly determined and ruthlessly pull out all stops to win. 

David Hyde Pierce, Holland Taylor, Marylouise Burke,
and David Lindsay-Abaire
Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

Holland Taylor and Marylouise Burke are well matched.  Their chemistry and timing are perfect.  This is not a surprise since the play is directed by David Hyde Pierce.  Amid the comedic antics, both characters experience sincere moments of emotion that offer glimpses into the deeper truths of their characters.  David Lindsay-Abaire skillfully develops these details in the later part of the play.  This is what makes this lighthearted comedy a rarity.  The kookiness, absurdity, and bitchiness in the writing are superseded by the warmth and emotional healing that only comes from true human contact.

Cast members Rachel Dratch, Glenn Fitzgerald, Daoud Heidami, and Nate Miller are honest and funny.  Their performances heighten the impact of the play’s themes and comic timing.  The set, designed by Alexander Dodge, is full of surprises with quick changes that open the space in ways you do not expect.  The lighting, by Peter Kaczorowsky, effectively shifts the focus and mood of each scene.

Ripcord is a truly enjoyable evening at the theatre.  David Lindsay-Abaire succeeds at making us laugh at the challenging behavior of the two main characters and see ourselves in their fear, frailty, and humanity.

Domenick Danza