Dan Cody’s Yacht

Dan Cody’s Yacht

Manhattan Theatre Club

New York City Center Stage I

May 27, 2018

Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

Playwright Anthony Giardina takes a biting look at privilege in his play Dan Cody’s Yacht, presently being presented by Manhattan Theatre Club.  The characters take great risks that they say are for the benefit of their children, but in reality fulfill their own need.  Mr. Giardina builds his story by constantly raising the stakes and creating powerful conflicts between the characters.  Director Doug Hughes fires up the cast to develop genuine relationships and deliver visceral performances that leave you deep in thought.

When his son gets an F on his paper about The Great Gatsby, Kevin O’Neill (played by Rick Holmes) schedules a conference with his son’s high school English teacher, Ms. Russo (played by Kristen Bush).  Kevin has done his homework on Ms. Russo and found out that she is a single parent living in a poorer school district in a house that is in need of a new roof.  He offers her a cash incentive to raise his son’s grade.  She doesn’t take the bribe, but does accept his invitation to join his stock market investment club.  The thought of a new roof and better opportunities for her daughter pull her into a game that is far over her head, both economically and emotionally.

Kristen Bush & Rick Holmes
Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

Rick Holmes is slick and cunning as Kevin O’Neill.  He fast talks and seduces his way through every interaction, never fully revealing the hand he is playing.  Kristen Bush portrays Ms. Russo as firm in her standards and resolute in her social beliefs.  The minute she shows the smallest crack in her demeanor, Mr. Holmes slithers his way in.  The timing between these two actors builds into a strong relationship that drives the action of the play forward.

John Kroft & Casey Whyland
Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

John Kroft plays Kevin O’Neill’s son, Connor, and Casey Whyland plays Ms. Russo’s daughter, Angela.  They are both superbly cast.  Connor’s privileged laziness is juxtaposed by Angela’s sharp wit and inner wisdom.  Their portrayals reflect an inner part of the characters of their parents.  Mr. Giardina makes very clear and potent statements about the upcoming generation in the identity of these two characters.  Wanting for more is not always first on their minds.  For some that is because it is handed over to them too easily, while others are simply happy with what they have.  Either way, this is fodder for robust conflict between what parents expect from their children and what their children want for themselves.

Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

Scenic design by John Lee Beatty brilliantly creates an even playing field between the economic variable among the characters.  The turntable spins from one location to another while the audience gets a glimpse at the inner emotional response of the characters as they walk in the alleyway that separates the sets.

Dan Cody’s Yacht is playing at New York City Center Stage I through July 8.  It is a fast paced, high stakes, and bold play that is very well produced by Manhattan Theatre Club.

Domenick Danza

Incognito

Incognito

Manhattan Theatre Club

New York City Center Stage I

May 8, 2016

Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

How does the brain’s ability to store and retrieve long term memory affect relationships?  Without memory, does a person have an identity?  Can post-mortem study of the brain unlock patterns of thought and scope of intelligence?  These are a few of the questions brought to the surface in Nick Payne’s play, Incognito, presently in previews at Manhattan Theatre Club.  It is an engaging and captivating compilation of fact and fiction that delves into the mysteries and science of memory and brain function.

Geneva Carr, Morgan Spector, Heather Lind, & Charlie Cox
Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

Four actors play twenty roles during the course of the play.  Some characters are developed from true stories and actual events.  Henry Maison (played by Charlie Cox) undergoes a procedure that destroys the portion of his brain associated with memory.  This leaves him with a long term memory span of about three minutes.  After the death of Albert Einstein, Dr. Thomas Harvey (played by Morgan Spector) removes his brain during the autopsy and keeps it, without consent, for research.  When psychologist Brenda Walsh (played by Geneva Carr) begins dating Patricia Thorn (played by Heather Lind), she leaves out facts about her past that are essential in building trust and comradery.  These three story lines, among others, run parallel and sometimes overlap, to dramatize the correlation between the brain’s ability to successfully store and retrieve information and the development of personality, intelligence, and relationship.

Playwright Nick Payne
Photo courtesy of
Manhattan Theatre Club

Each actor transforms in seconds from one character to the next with detailed command of gesture, posture, and vocal intonation, thus creating complete, realistic characters.  The audience instantaneously recognizes which character is being portrayed, and effortlessly connects the previous action of the simultaneous plot lines.  Director Doug Hughes keeps the action flowing continuously, stimulating the audience to stay focused on each moment.  It is this fluidity that makes the retention of the particulars of each individual plot line uncomplicated.  While layered with scientific fact and psychological theory, Mr. Payne’s script is remarkably poetic.  The final moment of the play is awe-inspiring.  It celebrates the mystery and magnitude in the power of the brain to connect bites of information with deep, emotional meaning.

The Manhattan Theatre Club production of Incognito opens on May 24 at New York City Center Stage I.  Don’t miss it!  It will amplify your understanding of how memory connects with identity.  It will broaden your appreciation of the science that explains our every moment.

Domenick Danza

The Father

The Father

Manhattan Theatre Club

The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

March 25, 2016

Photo courtesy of Manhttan Theatre Club

The Father is a powerful piece of theatre presently in previews at the Manhattan Theatre Club.  This is not to be confused with the well-known August Strindberg classic.  This play is a new translation by Christopher Hampton of the Moliere Award winning play (France’s most prestigious honor for a new work of theatre) by Florian Zeller.  Directed by Doug Hughes and starring Frank Langella, this play chronicles the perceptions and tragic crumbling of a man as he enters into the final chapter of a once productive life.

The play opens with Anne (played by Kathryn Erbe) talking with her eighty year old father, Andre (played by Frank Langella) about a fight he had with his caregiver.  It is evident by the tone of the discussion that he gets disoriented and is prone to outbursts.  His confusion is understood as a different actor (Kathleen McNenny) plays Anne in the next scene and the dialogue contradicts the facts set up in the first scene.  When Kathryn Erbe returns as Anne in scene three, it becomes clear that the play is going to unfold from Andre’s perplexed point of view.  His memory lapses and bewilderment make total sense when scenes play out with opposing information, flashing lights, different actors playing the same roles, and furniture disappearing.

Frank Langella & Kathryn Erbe
Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

Frank Langella is brilliant!  The strength of his presence and stature makes you believe him when he says he does not need anyone to help him.  His character is charming and gregarious.  He skillfully transitions from vigor into helplessness.  Watching him weaken as scenes progress is moving and tragic.  You can feel how lost he is in his own mind.  The relationship created between him and Ms. Erbe is tender and real.  They deeply rely on one another.  Doug Hughes direction brought them to the place where they boldly deliver honest and grounded performances.  Charles Borland, Kathleen McNenny, Hannah Cabell, and Brian Avers also deliver strong performances.

Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

This performance by Frank Langella is not to be missed.  The script is captivating and uniquely structured.  The Father opens on April 14 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre and runs through June 12.

Domenick Danza