Children of a Lesser God

Children of a Lesser God

Studio 54

March 24, 2018

Photo courtesy of Children of a Lesser God

The Broadway revival of Children of a Lesser God is vibrant and powerful.  A diverse cast of skilled actors bring Mark Medoff’s 1980 Tony Award winning play into the present with clarity and relevance.  Scenic design by Derek McLane and lighting design by Mike Baldassari are slick, clean, and unified.  Director Kenny Leon builds the conflict to a high point of revelation that will shift your point of view and open your awareness.  

Joshua Jackson & Lauren Ridloff
Photo courtesy of Children of a Lesser God

Speech Therapist James Leeds (played by Joshua Jackson) has great success teaching deaf and hard of hearing students to speak.  He is assigned a new student, Sarah Norman (played by Lauren Ridloff).  He is challenged by her certainty that communicating through sign language is sufficient.  His attempts to find an entry point around her resolve and stubbornness cause him to fall in love.  The challenge in their relationship increases after they are married.  Her close friends in the deaf community feel Sarah has turned her back on them, and the hearing world is unable to communicate with her unless her husband is translating.  The closer they get, the more out of reach they feel from one another.  How can they unite when there are elements in their worlds they cannot share and will never fully understand?

Photo courtesy of Children of a Lesser God

Lauren Ridloff and Joshua Jackson are drawn to one another as Sarah and James.  They ignite the conflict at the start of this well written play and keep the action aflame through the full two acts.  John McGinty is riveting as Orin Dennis, another of James’ students and close friend to Sarah.  His character is passionate about the rights of the individuals in the deaf community.  The chemistry between him and Ms. Ridloff is palpable.  Treshelle Edmond is fresh and vivacious as the naive Lydia, a hearing impaired student who has a crush on her teacher, James.  Her energetic spirit fills the stage every time she enters.

Children of a Lesser God addresses the differences that separate us.  The play definitively expresses that no one has the right to change or mold another individual to reflect their own image.  This is a strong and pertinent theme for audiences to experience at this time, and this production beautifully illustrates it.  Children of a Lesser God is playing at Studio 54 through September 9. 

Domenick Danza

Latin History for Morons

Latin History for Morons

Studio 54

December 29, 2017

Photo courtesy of Latin History for Morons

John Leguizamo grabs your attention and does not let go for one hour and forty-five non-stop, energetic minutes in his latest Broadway show, Latin History for Morons.  After a successful run at Berkeley Rep and The Public Theater, John Leguizamo is selling out Studio 54, and has extended his Broadway engagement through February.  Mr. Leguizamo’s tell it like it is style is wickedly funny and full of moments that give you pause to ponder the truth and poignancy in the humor.

As in all John Leguizamo one-man shows, he reveals a slice of his life.  In this one, his fourteen year old son is being bullied at school.  John does some research in order to give his son pride in his Latin heritage.  This uncovers, for John, some of the source of his own “ghetto rage,” but does not give his son the courage to face his challenges at school.  It is not until his son makes a speech at his eighth grade graduation that John realizes the effect of his efforts.

Photo courtesy of Latin History for Morons

Mr. Leguizamo takes on the characterization of numerous roles, including his wife, his son, his daughter, his therapist, and countless figures from history.  He weaves together the historic facts about the Incas, the Aztecs, their European conquerors, and a Civil War transvestite General.  He carries these stories forward to illustrate their repeated 20th century patterns, and even further into the present day political situation.  Not only does he make a strong statement on the treatment of indigenous populations throughout history, he also makes a poignant point of how to create a deep sense of self-esteem in our younger population.

John Leguizamo is a truly master at his craft.  Latin History for Morons is playing at Studio 54 through February 25.  Get your tickets right away.  

Domenick Danza

Therese Raquin

Therese Raquin

Roundabout Theatre Company

Studio 54

December 26, 2015

Photo courtesy of Roundabout Theatre Company

My colleague and fellow blogger, Dierdre Deloatch, texted me last week to say she saw Therese Raquin.  She highly recommended it.  Since I trust her more than the reviews, I immediately went on line to TDF to see if it was available.  I got a ticket for December 26 at 2:00, and prayed that Keira Knightly and Judith Light would both be in for the matinee.  They were, and I have to concur with Ms. Deloatch.  The show is dark and intense.  It is wonderfully conceived and directed.  All the performers are engaging and mesmerizing.

Matt Ryan, Judith Light, Keira Knightly, & Gabriel Ebert
Photo courtesy of Roundabout Theatre Company

Adapted from the Emile Zola novel by Helen Edmundson, this tale of repression and servitude takes place in France in the year 1868.  Therese Raquin (played by Keira Knightly, making her Broadway debut) has been raised by Madame Raquin, her aunt (played by Judith Light).  Now that she is of age, Madame Raquin arranges for Therese to marry her son, Camille (played by Gabriel Ebert).  It is a loveless marriage based on the servitude that Therese has become accustomed to through her upbringing.  When Camille announces that he wishes to move the family to Paris for better opportunity, Therese sees the glimmer of a better life.  She quickly realizes that hope is futile, until her husband brings home an old friend, Laurent (played by Matt Ryan).

Keira Knightly & Matt Ryan
Photo courtesy of Roundabout Theatre Company

The chemistry between Ms. Knightly and Mr. Ryan is electric.  When Laurent first enters the Raquin’s Paris residence, you can feel the magnetism between the two characters.  The action of two-thirds of the play hinges upon this attraction, and these two actors skillfully deliver with exuberance.  Therese speaks sporadically during Act I, yet Ms. Knightly has the ability to clearly and effortlessly communicate her thoughts through subtle body language, carefully gestures, and intimate glances.  Both Laurent and Therese undergo huge transformations in the second act.  Ms. Knightly and Mr. Ryan seamlessly take these leaps by captivating the audience until the climax of the play.  They motivate every change and communicate every thought.

Keira Knightly & Judith Light
Photo courtesy of Roundabout Theatre Company

Judith Light is amazing as Madame Raquin, a role out of her physical type and age range, yet clearly not out of reach of her incredible talent and expertise.  The aging and infirmity of her character is impeccable and emotionally driven.  Gabriel Ebert is riveting as Camille.  He skillfully portrays his constrained upbringing through his narrow mindedness, condescending comments, and physical disability.

Gabriel Ebert, Matt Ryan, & Keira Knightly
Photo courtesy of Roundabout Theatre Company

The production is magnificently directed by Evan Cabnet.  The pace is steady and even.  There are small moments throughout the play that entice the senses into a deep level of engagement and keep you riveted.  The set is breathtaking.  A river flows across the stage creating tranquility, disturbance, and fear – each of which reflects Therese’s emotion at different times in the play.  The expanse of space and light of the Raquin home by the river is sharply descended upon by the heavy, low-ceilinged Paris apartment.  Lamont’s attic, sky lit apartment literally hangs amid the stars.  This unbelievable design by Beowulf Boritt makes possible a visceral understanding of the underlying fire in the characters and keeps the plot of Ms. Edmundson’s commissioned and concise adaptation moving forward.

If you listened to the reviews of Therese Raquin, chances are you missed seeing this moving and enthralling Roundabout Theatre production.  If it makes you feel better, you are not alone.  The theatre, during Broadway’s busiest season, had a large number of empty seats.  Not to worry, there’s still time.  Therese Raquin plays as Studio 54 until January 3.  Run… now! 

  

Domenick Danza