The Last of the Love Letters

 The Last of the Love Letters
Atlantic Theater Company
Linda Gross Theater
August 28, 2021 

Photo courtesy of Atlantic Theater Company

When you lose a love, a part of you goes with them.  The part that believed and came alive has a hard time letting go.  In The Last of the Love Letters, playwright Ngozi Anyanwu explores that loss to an extreme.  When it is revealed that the loss these characters experiences is of the creative self, not of someone separate, the extent to which they go does not seem the least bit excessive.

Playwright Ngozi Anyanwu
Photo courtesy of Atlantic Theater Company

When you enter the theater, the character of You (played by Ngozi Anyanwu) is on stage, alone, in her bedroom, deep in thought, writing and reading.  As the house lights dim, she puts on music, a vinyl record, and throws herself on the bed.  When the song concludes, she sits up and begins to tell of how hard it was to make the decision to walk away from her love.  She then realizes the opposite.  It was actually easy because of how she had to become someone else in order to receive the love she craved.  She goes back and forth from certainty to indecision.  She has the last word and is ready to leave, then returns with another unanswerable questions.  She is torn.

Daniel J. Watts
Photo courtesy of Atlantic Theater Company

The set spins and lights change, and we find the character of You No. 2 (played by Daniel J. Watts) in his bed.  He sits up and tries to find the most charming way to begin.  He too has been left behind by his love.  He too waivers between understanding and confusion.  The lights flash and the character of Person (played by Xavier Scott Evans) enters.  He gives You No. 2 medication, then exits abruptly.  We question where we are and how far off the deep end You No. 2 has fallen because of his loss.  He makes a safe place for himself, gets calmer, and tells us more.  It does not pacify the severity of the situation.  Person re-enters and finds a recording that You No. 2 made early on in his crisis.  We listen.  We understand why the level of loss is so great.

Ms. Anyanwu’s writing is provocative and humorous.  The audience identifies with what the characters are saying and feeling.  Her performance as You is genuine and personable.  She is welcoming and makes it comfortable to enter on the journey.  Daniel J. Watts charismatically picks up the journey as You No. 2.  The audience willingly follows him on his deep decline.  There is no going back as he slides into darkness. These two performances are vividly truthful and highly engaging.  The audience fully submits to the suspension of reality and submerges in Ms. Anyanwu’s strong themes and focused intention.

The Last of the Love Letters is a powerful piece of theatre for our newly established post-pandemic time.  The production is skillfully directed by Patricia McGregor.  It is playing at Atlantic Theater Company’s Linda Gross Theater through September 26.    

Domenick Danza

I Am Your Masseuse

 I Am Your Masseuse
The Bridge Production Group
Brooklyn Navy Yards
August 18, 2021 

I Am Your Masseuse is an evening of five short plays by John Patrick Shanley, presented by The Bridge Production Group.  It is part of the Bridge Residency at the Brooklyn Navy Yards Summer Festival.  These five new works are sharp and funny, and produced with an impeccable eye on detail.  Director Claire Edmonds finds every nuance and effective subtext in Mr. Shanley’s writing.  The cast of four skillfully delivers every laugh with biting witticism. 

Photo courtsey of The Bridge Production Group

Mr. Shanley’s characters take deep and unexpected dives in these new works.  Each piece runs about fifteen minutes.  They are smoothy transitioned.  The actors transform and the mood shifts in a matter of minutes.  Each story starts off simply, then evolves as secrets are revealed and desires are devilishly pursued.  Bonds are broken, fears are faced, and connections are forged at a deeper level, leaving the audience laughing, aroused, and, at times, enlightened.  

Marcus Naylor, Crawford M. Collins, Carlo Albán, and Christina Toth are an amazing ensemble.  They each get a chance to pair off in the five different plays, constantly outdoing themselves in each successive piece.  Their character choices are distinct in each work.  Their timing, focus, and chemistry are consistently top notch. 

I Am Your Masseuse runs for one more night (August 22 at 8:00 PM) at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.  Check out The Bridge Production Group’s website for ticket information as well as dates and times for the other shows in their summer festival.  [title of show] runs through August 21.  Get a ticket, make a trip to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and enjoy a great evening of theatre. 

Domenick Danza

Pass Over

Pass Over

August Wilson Theatre

August 11, 2021

Antionette Chinonye Nwandu’s play Pass Over is a brilliantly crafted piece of theatre.  There is no better way to reopen Broadway than with this masterwork, giving us all a chance to look at ourselves and “pass over’ into a hopeful post-pandemic existence.  Director Danya Taymor brings light to every essential moment in this production, allowing the audience to bathe in every one of Ms. Nwandu’s metaphors, and dive deeply into her superb writing.  

Photo courtsey of Pass Over

Moses (played by Jon Michael Hill) and Kitch (played by Namir Smallwood) rise to another morning on their street, imagining passing over to a different life.  They joke about their top ten list of things they’d have and do there.  When a white man (played by Gabriel Ebert) loses his way and finds himself on Moses and Kitch’s street, he offers them food and pleasant conversation.  Kitch is eager to partake, but Moses is skeptical, even though the food includes Moses’ number one favorite from his top ten list.  The mood abruptly shifts as the reality of the street returns.  A police officer (also played by Gabriel Ebert) enters and reminds the men of their place on the street.  When the next day begins, Moses is unwilling to play the top ten game.  He is driven to live up to his name and devise a plan to lead Kitch to the promised land. 

Jon Michael Hill & Namir Smallwood
Photo courtesy of Pass Over

Jon Michael Hill and Namir Smallwood maintain a tight, steady rhythm throughout the piece.  These
two skilled actors fill the repetition in the writing with rich subtext so it never has the same meaning.  Mr. Hill plays a strong leader and Mr. Smallwood his eager follower.  They do not leave the stage for ninety minute, and are mesmerizing for every second of that time.  When Gabriel Ebert enters, the rhythm shifts.  He lures the two characters and the audience down a very threatening path, and does not falter on his charm or timing as the mood darkens.  

Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu has written a play filled with stark reality, poetic dialogue, and bold metaphor.  She holds up a mirror that you cannot avoid looking in and seeing truth.  Pass Over is playing on Broadway at the August Wilson Theatre.  Get a ticket right away! 

Domenick Danza

Georgie D.

 Georgie D.
Chain Theatre
July 30, 2021 

Georgie D., now playing on the mainstage at Chain Theatre, is a poignant story of a brother and sister coming to terms with their relationship after the passing of their father.  Playwright Jessica Durdock Moreno has written a somber and emotionally driven story.  Director Rick Hamilton gathered a superb cast and captured the mood and rhythm of the writing.  

Photo courtesy of Chain Theatre

Thomas (played by Patrick Grizzard) rushes to the hospital to meet his sister Margaret (played by Cheryl Games) after she texts him that their father suffered a stroke and is on life support.  Their relationship is strained, not having seen one another in some time and not knowing how to handle the situation.  They stumble through small talk and a few unpleasant memories.  When Patty, an elderly neighbor (played by Constance Cooper), comes to visit their father, she calls him “Georgie D.” and shares stories of his traumatized childhood.  Not only is this nickname something they never heard before, but the unpleasant facts of their father’s upbringing are news to Thomas and Margaret.  They begin to understand why their father was cold and distant while they were growing up.  

A few months later, when Thomas and Margaret meet at a local restaurant to discuss their father’s property and remaining paperwork, the waiter, Pedro (played by David Rey), shares stories of their father’s kindness toward him and his young daughter.  Again, they hear the nickname Georgie D., as Pedro describes a side of their father that Thomas and Margaret never met.  

In the final scene, when their father’s house has been sold, Margaret and Thomas admit the truth of how much they have been there for one another in all the hard times they faced growing up.  It is clear they will be able to rely on one another with more ease and certainty in the future. 

Patrick Grizzard & Cherly Games
Photo courtesy of Chain Theatre

Cheryl Games and Patrick Grizzard are amazing together.  Their relationship is clearly established in their first moment on stage.  While the tensions between them are deeply entrenched, their bond is clear and strongly rooted.  Their demeanor softens as the needs of each of their characters emerge.  Then the walls of defense quickly rise as old wounds come to the surface.  The work these two actors put into creating this troubled brother/sister relationship is truly masterful.

Constance Copper offers well needed humor as Patty.  The humor quickly flips as her memory loss becomes evident.  David Rey delivers genuine sentimentality when his character tell the stories of Georgie D.  It is a touching and heartfelt high point.  

Georgie D. is playing at Chain Theatre, 312 W. 36^th Street, through August 15.  It is a simple production with a bare stage and a strong emotional impact.  It is an amazingly directed and skillfully crafted piece of theatre.  Be prepared to show proof of vaccination status when picking up your tickets. 

Domenick Danza

Blithe Spirit at Woodstock Playhouse

 Blithe Spirit
Woodstock Playhouse
July 24, 2021 

Photo courtesy of Woodstock Playhouse

The Woodstock Playhouse is back with a full summer season!  Their production of Blithe Spirit is delightfully entertaining.  Director Randy Conti has brought together a talented cast who capture Noel Coward’s humor, creating a highly enjoyable evening of fun and surprises.

When Charles (played by Patrick Sharpe) needs to conduct research for his new novel about a psychic, he and his wife Ruth (played be Brooke Sterling) invite Madame Arcati (played by Lynda Sales) to a dinner party.  To round out the evening, they also invite two skeptical friends of theirs, Dr. and Mrs. Bradman (played by Alex Gossard and Jenna Robinson).  When Madame Arcati falls into a trance, Charles hears a familiar voice.  Since no one else hears it, they all believe Madam Arcati is a fake.  Charles has a different perspective of Madam Arcati’s powers when the ghost of his deceased first wife, Elvira (played by Gena Heylock) appears and begins to wreak havoc on his present marriage. 

Gena Heylock is enchanting as Elvira.  The chemistry between her and Patrick Sharpe is electric.  The sparks really fly when Brooke Sterling joins their scenes.  These three skilled actors make the most of Noel Coward’s rhythm and timing to the increase tension and build each scene to a dramatically funny high point. 

Photo courtesy of Woodstock Playhouse

Blithe Spirit played for only one weekend, but if you are planning a trip upstate New York this summer, be sure to include a visit to Woodstock Playhouse.  Their next show is Sweet Charity from July 30 – August 15.  Due to Covid restrictions, seating is sporadic throughout the theater, so get you tickets in advance.  

Domenick Danza

The Two Noble Kinsmen

 The Two Noble Kinsmen
Shakespeare in the Parking Lot
The Drilling Company
July 16, 2021 

Photo courtesy of The Drilling Company

Shakespeare in the Parking Lot is back… and better than ever!  This summer they are presenting a glorious production of William Shakespeare & John Fletcher’s TheTwo Noble Kinsmen in two locations: the parking lot at the Clemente Cultural Center (107, Suffolk St. on the Lower East Side) and in Bryant Park (6^th Ave. & 42 St.).  Director Hamilton Clancy has gathered a remarkably sharp company of actors for this rarely seen Shakespeare piece.  It is not to be missed.

After Athens is victorious in war with Thebes, Duke Theseus (played by Lukas Raphael) imprisons two noble cousins, Palamon (played by Bradford Frost) and Arcite (played by John Caliendo).  From their prison window, Palamon and Arcite spot Emilia (played by Liz Livingston), who is the sister of Duke Theseus’ wife, Hippolyta (played by Kathleen Simmonds). Both men are enamored and begin arguing over the right to woo her affections.  When Arcite is released from prison and banished from Athens, he disguises himself and sneaks into court to get close to Emilia.  Meanwhile, the Jailors Daughter (played by Jane Bradley) falls madly in love with Palamon and helps him escape. 

Palamon and Arcite find each other in the woods.  Though happy to see one another, they continue to fight for the right to pursue Emilia.  When Duke Theseus discovers them fighting, they reveal their true identities and the reason for the fight.  Theseus sets a date for a duel between the two cousins.  He promises Emilia’s hand to the victor, and death to the loser.

The Jailor’s Daughter has gone mad in her unrequited love of Palamon.  Her father (played by David Marantz) consults a doctor (played by Mary Linehan) to cure her.  The Wooer of the Jailor’s Daughter (played by Remy Souchon) willingly plays his part in her cure. 

Arcite wins the duel for Emilia’s hand, then dies when falling from his horse.  Palamon gains his life and love, but loses his noble cousin and closest friend. 

Bradford Frost as Palamon & John Caliendo as Arcite
Photo courtesy of The Drilling Company

Bradford Frost and John Caliendo bring humor and honesty to the complicated relationship between Palamon and Arcite.  One minute they are inseparable cousins and the next they are fighting to the death.  They create genuine characters, earnestly motivated by love and honor.  Liz Livingston is strong and resolute as Emilia.  Even though she is unwavering in her conviction not to marry either kinsman, she takes the responsibility of the duel very seriously.  Her deliberation is portrayed with high integrity and meticulous care.

Jane Bradley as the Jailer's Daughter
Photo courtesy of The Drilling Company

Jane Bradley is mesmerizing as the Jailer’s Daughter.  The physicality of her character consumes her.  She opens her heart with unwavering trust and steadfast conviction.  The humor is brought to an even higher level in Mary Linehan’s impeccable portrayal of the Doctor, Remy Souchon’s winning portrayal of the Wooer of the Jailer’s Daughter, and David Marantz’s staunch portrayal of the Jailer.  Their characterizations are flawless and their timing is impeccable.   

Lukas Raphael is noble and proud as Theseus, and Kathleen Simmonds is regal and commanding as Hippolyta.  There are strong performances by Lizabeth Allen, Elowyn Castle, Ja’Quawn Turner, and Bob Arcaro, each creating numerous and distinct characters who engage the audience in the progress of the action. 

Director Hamilton Clancy and Assistant Director Karla Hendrick have outdone themselves with this production.  The Two Noble Kinsmen will be at Bryant Park on July 19, 20, & 21 at 7:30 PM, then back at the Clemente Cultural Center parking lot on July 28, 29, & 30 at 7:00 PM.  All performances are FREE.  No one does outdoor Shakespeare better that The Drilling Company.  Don’t miss it!  

Domenick Danza

Mandela

 Mandela
East Harlem Repertory Theater
The Actor’s Temple
July 10, 2021 

Photo courtesy of Mandela

Mandela, written by Yolanda Brooks and John Ruiz Miranda, succinctly tells the story of Nelson Mandela’s fearless dedication to freeing the people of South Africa from the oppression of apartheid.  Not only does this play give the clear facts of Mandela’s life and work, but it depicts the emotional degradation the characters endured in their relentless struggle to achieve freedom.  

When peaceful demonstrations are not serving the anti-apartheid movement, Nelson Mandela (played by Robert Greene) has a meeting with his followers, Robert Mbeke (played by Thaddeus Birkett), Joseph Kwezi (played by Jimmy Garrett), Walter Sisulu (played by Lamine Thiam), and Dennis Goldberg (played by Ivan Goris) to plan their next move.  They decide a more violent approach will better serve the cause.  Winnie Mandela (played by Nadjah A.K.) addresses this decision with her husband before he leaves for a demonstration, unaware it is the last time she will hug him.  He is arrested later that night, then sentenced to a term of life in prison for conspiring to overthrow the government.  In the United States, the Black Panther Party is speaking out to help free Mandela.  Many nations of the world rally in his support.  They are finally successful.  After spending over twenty-seven years in prison, he was later elected the first black president of South Africa in 1994.  He died in 2013 at the age of 95. 

The Actor's Temple Theater
339 W. 47th St., NYC
Photo courtesy of The Actor's Temple Theater

Robert Greene has a powerful presence as Nelson Mandela.  He is solid and determined in his portrayal of this heroic figure, showing his charisma, his flaws, and his conviction.  Nadijah A.K.’s portrayal of Winnie Mandela is grounded and genuine.  She skillfully plays this character with deep insight and an expansive emotional range.  Thaddeus Birkett, Jimmy Garrett, Lamine Thiam, and Ivan Goris create distinctive characters and realistic relationships, bringing this story to life with depth and passion. 

The script it seasoned with direct address from the main characters that shine a light into their thoughts, fears, and driving principles.  These are well crafted monologues that are admirably delivered.  The set is simple and stark, yet it is the brilliant use of projections and video that keeps the action connected and the chronological facts clear.  

Mandela is playing on Saturdays and Sundays at 4:30 at The Actor’s Temple Theater, 339 W. 47^th St. 

Domenick Danza