Hurricane Diane

Hurricane Diane

New York Theatre Workshop

March 9, 2019

Photo courtesy of New York Theatre Workshop

If Dionysus (Greek) / Bacchus (Roman), the god of wine, winemaking, grape cultivation, fertility, ritual madness, theater, and religious ecstasy, were to return to Earth to save the planet, where would they start?  A cul-de-sac in Morris County, New Jersey, of course.  That is the premise for Hurricane Diane, Madeleine George’s play at New York Theatre Workshop.  Co-produced with WP Theater and originally developed at Two River Theater, this play is all laughs, until reality hits and you realize that saving the planet is not an easy feat.

Michelle Beck, Kate Wetherhead, Mia Barron & Danielle Skraastad
Photo courtesy of New York Theatre Workshop

Carol (played by Mia Barron) wants her yard re-landscaped.  She meets with Diane (played by Becca Blackwell) to discuss the design, which surprisingly does not match Diane’s landscape philosophy.  Diane is really Dionysus (or Bacchus) returning to Earth to save the planet from the destructive forces creating devastating climate change.  When Diane is unable to convince Carol to turn her yard into a balanced ecosystem, she turns to the other three ladies in the cul-de-sac.  Pam (played by Danielle Skraastad) is an easy mark, followed by Renee (played by Michelle Beck).  Beth (played by Kate Wetherhead) is tough to convince, but Diane does have her ways.  She needs four women for the Greek traditional initiation ceremony.  Carol is the final holdout. 

Becca Blackwell as Diane
Photo courtesy of New York Theatre Workshop

Mia Barron, Michelle Beck, Danielle Skraastad, and Kate Wetherhead create four distinct and powerful women who live on the cul-de-sac in Morris County, New Jersey.  Their characters are very much drawn on types, then delve deep into the core of their individual truths.  These actors deliver genuinely funny and riveting portrayals.  Becca Blackwell, as Diane, skillfully and humorously leads these characters down a path to self-awareness.  When Diane’s main objective proves most difficult, playwright Madeleine George makes a cold and brutal statement as to where the responsibility lies for the future of our planet.  Director Leigh Silverman masterfully builds the tension from the humor into a quiet and stunning realization of the truth. 

Hurricane Diane is playing at New York Theatre Workshops through March 24.  Get a ticket and go see it! 

Domenick Danza