Italian American Reconciliation

 Italian American Reconciliation
The Flea Theater
October 18, 2025

Photo courtesy of Italian American Reconciliation

John Patrick Shanley’s rarely produced Italian American Reconciliation is beautifully brought to life at The Flea Theater.  Director Austin Pendleton has gathered an amazing cast to inject passion and perspective into Mr. Shanley’s writing.  The setting and time period ring with authenticity.  The cast captures the rhythms and timing in the dialogue.  It all flows naturally, building the tension and humor in each moment through the characters’ conflicting desires.

Aldo (played by Robert Farrior) tells the story of his best friend, Huey (played by Wade McCollum).  Huey is dating Teresa (played by Mia Gentile).  He is very much in love with her, but feels he needs to break up with her and get back with his ex-wife, Janice (played by Linda Manning).  He feels that when they divorced, she took a part of him, and he needs to get it back.  Huey has a plan and needs Aldo’s help.  Aldo agrees, but has a plan of his own to keep Janice and Huey apart, which he feels is best for both of them. 

Wade McCollum & Robert Farrior
Photo courtesy of Italian American Reconciliation

Robert Farrior opens the show as Aldo, directly addressing the audience.  The tone, pace, and humor of the play are immediately established.  He invites the audience in for the story he wants to tell, and informs them that it has a lesson.  He brings the lesson to a specific conclusion, after experiencing torment throughout the journey.  Mr. Farrior skillfully portrays this inner conflict, while maintaining the humor in Aldo’s perspective.  He brings vibrant life to all his scenes. 

Wade McCollum skillfully portrays the various levels of Huey’s character.  He is meek and broken with a lust for life that is trapped within.  Mr. McCollum finds moments to reveal this inner zeal and strength, keeping the audience connected to his plan to reconcile with his ex-wife.  Linda Manning’s Janice is dark and brooding with an explosive temper.  She reveals different sides of herself in scenes with Huey and Aldo, creating a full and complex character. 

Mia Gentile, Mary Testa, & Robert Farrior
Photo courtesy of Italian American Reconciliation

Mia Gentile plays Teresa with a strong sense of self-awareness, while also needing love and companionship.  These elements come into conflict when the decision she makes to break it off with Huey is turned around when he breaks up with her first.  Luckily, she has Aunt May to talk to.  Mary Testa plays this role to the fullest.  She offers advice and comfort, not only to Teresa, but also to Aldo.  Ms. Testa portrays this character with warmth and wisdom, while also maintaining an edge of skepticism, which magnifies the humor.

This play addresses the messiness of love and the need we all have for it.  It is structured and communicated in a way that is unique to John Patrick Shanley.  It is a beautifully passionate adventure. 

Italian American Reconciliation is playing at The Flea Theater through October 26. 

Domenick Danza

The Gardens of Anuncia

 The Gardens of Anuncia
Lincoln Center Theatre
at the Mitzi E. Newhouse
October 28, 2023 

Photo courtesy of Lincoln Center Theatre

The Gardens of Anuncia, a new musical by Michael John LaChiusa, tells  the story of the early years in the life of Broadway Director/Choreographer Graciela Daniele.  Directed and co-choreographed by Ms. Daniele, the Lincoln Center Theatre production is tender, sensitive, beautifully staged, and skillfully performed.

Anuncia (played by Priscilla Lopez) is working in her garden, trying to decide the best place to bury the ashes of her Tia.  Her mind is flooded with memories of her younger years in Argentina.  Her father left at an early age, and her Mami (played by Eden Espinosa) brought them to live with Granmama (played by Mary Testa) and Tia (played by Andréa Burns).  These three women raise Anuncia with firm hands, strong wills, and open hearts.  When Younger Anuncia (played by Kalyn West) experiences pain in her feet, Mami enrolls her in ballet class to strengthen her arches.  A whole new world opens for Anuncia.  Tia teaches her to listen to the music and see the stories.  Granmama keeps her grounded, yet responds to life with a high level of dramatics.  When Anuncia gets a job dancing in Europe, Mami is happy she will escape the violence caused by the end of the Peron regime.  Anuncia does not want to leave her home.  She still holds the hurt of her father’s abandonment.  It is Tia who convinces her to go.  Now that Tia is gone, Anuncia is the last of the strong women in her family.  She realizes how much these three women will always be with her.

Eden Espinosa, Kalyn West, Mary Testa, & Andréa Burns
Photo courtesy of Lincoln Center Theatre

Andréa Burns, Mary Testa, and Eden Espinosa are a powerful trio as Tia, Granmama, and Mami.  Their energies balance beautifully.  Their distinctive characters build as their backstories are revealed and the world of Anuncia’s upbringing becomes clear.  Priscilla Lopez and Kalyn West have a genuine bond as Older and Younger Anuncia.  Their movements often mirror one another.  They are physically and emotionally in sync throughout the story, giving us a visceral understanding of how the past is always present. 

There are also strong performances by Enrique Acevedo and Tally Sessions, who play all the male roles in the story.  Their Moustache Brothers are bold and funny.  Mr. Acevedo’s Granpapa is rough and heartwarming.  Mr. Sessions’ interpretation of The Deer is magical and humorous.  

Photo courtesy of Lincoln Center Theatre

As Anuncia relives and changes her memories, she comes to a surprising conclusion of what she takes with her and what she has to leave behind.  It is an ending that leaves the audience feeling peaceful and comforted.  

The Gardens of Anuncia is playing at Lincoln Center Theatre’s Mitzi E. Newhouse through December 31. 

Domenick Danza

Oklahoma!

Oklahoma!

St. Ann’s Warehouse

October 13, 2018

Photo courtesy of St. Ann's Warehouse

If you’d have told me that a production of Rogers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! could have a gut-wrenching emotional impact and offer a brutally honest point of view as to who we are as Americans, I’d have said that is not conceivable.  Yet, the Bard Summerscape production at St. Ann’s Warehouse in the Dumbo section of Brooklyn, does just that.  Director Daniel Fish reframes this American classic, making it startlingly relevant to a present day audience.  The production revels in the idealistic goals of the characters, then puts a truthful spotlight on the length they are willing to go to achieve them.  More importantly, it illustrates how their bond tills the soil for future incongruity.

Rebecca Naomi Jones as Laurey & Damon Daunno as Curly
Photo courtesy of St. Ann's Warehouse

The cast creates one honest moment after another, showing the power and quality of Oscar Hammerstein’s book.  They deliver layer upon layer of richness, depth, humor, and intensity to these well-known characters, who we have seen over and over.  This phenomenal work gives us an opportunity to meet them for the first time.  There are riveting performances by Damon Daunno (Curly McLain), Rebecca Naomi Jones (Laurey Williams), Mary Testa (Aunt Eller), Ali Stroker (Ado Annie), Patrick Wail (Jud Fry), James Davis (Will Parker), Michael Nathanson (Ali Hakim), Gabrielle Hamilton (Dream Laurey), Mitch Tebo (Andrew Carnes), Mallory Portnoy (Gertie Cummings), Anthony Cason (Cord Elam), and Will Mann (Mike).  Their chemistry, timing, physicality, and vocal characteristics are flawless. 

Damon Daunno as Curly with the Band
Photo courtesy of St. Ann's Warehouse

Daniel Kluger re-orchestrated the Richard Rogers score for a seven piece country/western style band.  His work puts a strong focus on the vocals, luminously highlighting the Hammerstein lyrics.  The small, diverse, and powerful cast shines vocally, both in skill and styling.  The newly conceived choreography by John Heginbotham rides on the structure and story advancing format set by Agnes DeMille, yet delivers it in a powerfully visceral and original manner that is both engaging and deeply psychological. 

Mary Testa as Aunt Eller & James Davis as Will Parker
Photo courtesy of St. Ann's Warehouse

The interpretation of the ending is shocking.  Once the main characters achieve their goal, the community bond allows them to get away with the murderous actions they felt justified to execute.  They carry the weight of that burden forward as they begin their lives together and their territory becomes a state.  The finale is sung with brutal determination while characters are covered in blood.  It is upsetting… and brilliant, bringing new and darker meaning to the lyrics, “We know we belong to the land, and the land we belong to is grand.”  

The Bard Summerscape production of Rogers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! is running through November 11 at St. Ann’s Warehouse.  Do whatever you need to do to get a ticket.  It is a bold, risky, and brave production that will sit with you for a long time.

Domenick Danza