At Home at the
Zoo
Signature Theatre
The Pershing Square Signature Center
February 10, 2018
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| Photo courtesy of Signature Theatre |
Edward
Albee’s At Home at the Zoo, the two
act version of his 1959 groundbreaking play The
Zoo Story, is presently bring presented at Signature Theatre. The production is excellently cast. Director Lila Neugebauer has an expansive
vision for the play. The timing and
character development are amazingly precise.
Peter
(played by Robert Sean Leonard) is at home reading when his wife, Ann (played
by Katie Finneran) enters from the kitchen and proclaims, “We should
talk.” Peter is so immersed in his
reading that he does not hear her. She
manage to get his attention. They get to
talking, and it is viscerally understood how complacent they are in their
marriage. They are both very happy
living in their Upper East Side apartment with their two daughters, two cats,
and two parakeets, then Ann mentions her occasional need for something more
animalistic. Peter is perplexed. He goes to Central Park to read, where he meets
Jerry (played by Paul Sparks). Again,
Peter is so immersed in his reading that at first he does not notice that
someone is talking to him. Jerry,
however, is much more successful than
Ann at getting Peter’s animal nature aroused.
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| Katie Finneran & Robert Sean Leonard Photo courtesy of Signature Theatre |
Robert
Sean Leonard and Katie Finneran are captivating in Act I. Their relationship is deeply rooted and
realistic, based on decades of familiarity and comfort. Their dialogue reveals new aspects of both
their personalities, yet they remain calm and accepting with one another. Paul Sparks is intoxicating as Jerry. His rhythm and physicality keep you engaged
through Edward Albee’s detailed monologues in Act II. The connections between these characters are
vital to the climactic impact of the play, and this cast masterfully creates the
bonds that are needed.
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| Paul Sparks & Robert Sean Leonard Photo courtesy of Signature Theatre |
Scenic
design by Andrew Lieberman is open and abstract. The realistic green arm chair in Act I and
the five iron and wood park benches in Act II keep the action grounded and
realistic. Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo: Homelife & The Zoo Story is
playing at Pershing Square Signature Center through March 11. Go see it!
Domenick Danza
